U.S. patent application number 10/954469 was filed with the patent office on 2005-05-12 for image forming apparatus and process cartridge.
This patent application is currently assigned to BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA. Invention is credited to Deguchi, Hideaki, Ishikawa, Satoru, Nishimura, Soichiro.
Application Number | 20050100357 10/954469 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34554704 |
Filed Date | 2005-05-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050100357 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nishimura, Soichiro ; et
al. |
May 12, 2005 |
Image forming apparatus and process cartridge
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes: a transfer member that
transfers a developer image onto a transfer medium to form an image
on the transfer medium; a bias applying unit that applies a
transfer bias to the transfer member; and a bias control unit that
controls the transfer bias to be applied to the transfer member by
the bias applying unit, wherein a longitudinal length of the
transfer member is formed to be shorter than a width of the
transfer medium having a maximum width on which the image is to be
formed with the image forming apparatus.
Inventors: |
Nishimura, Soichiro;
(Handa-shi, JP) ; Deguchi, Hideaki; (Nagoya-shi,
JP) ; Ishikawa, Satoru; (Aichi-ken, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OLIFF & BERRIDGE, PLC
P.O. BOX 19928
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22320
US
|
Assignee: |
BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI
KAISHA
Nagoya-shi
JP
|
Family ID: |
34554704 |
Appl. No.: |
10/954469 |
Filed: |
October 1, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
399/66 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G03G 21/1814 20130101;
G03G 15/1675 20130101; G03G 2221/183 20130101; G03G 2221/1606
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
399/066 |
International
Class: |
G03G 015/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 2, 2003 |
JP |
2003-344653 |
Dec 25, 2003 |
JP |
2003-429956 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a transfer member that
transfers a developer image onto a transfer medium to form an image
on the transfer medium; a bias applying unit that applies a
transfer bias to the transfer member; and a bias control unit that
controls the transfer bias to be applied to the transfer member by
the bias applying unit, wherein a longitudinal length of the
transfer member is formed to be shorter than a width of the
transfer medium having a maximum width on which the image is to be
formed with the image forming apparatus.
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
transfer bias control unit controls the bias applying unit so that
a transfer bias is applied according to a control method differing
depending on whether or not the width of the transfer medium to be
used for transferring is equal to or longer than the longitudinal
length of the transfer member.
3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the
bias applying unit is designed to selectively execute either one of
constant current control and constant voltage control.
4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the
transfer bias control unit controls the bias applying unit with a
first control method when the width of the transfer medium to be
used is equal to or longer than the longitudinal length of the
transfer member, and controls the bias applying unit with a second
control method when the width of the transfer medium to be used is
shorter than the longitudinal length of the transfer member.
5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the
first control method is constant current control and the second
control method is constant voltage control.
6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the
first control method is constant current control, and the second
control method is constant current control for controlling at a
current value higher than that of the constant current control
performed in the first control method.
7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the
first control method is constant current control for controlling
constantly at a constant value regardless of the width of the
transfer medium, and the second control method is constant current
control in which a current value is changed according to the width
of the transfer medium.
8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further
comprising: a developer carrier that carries a developer; an image
carrier that is disposed opposite the developer carrier and carries
an image of the developer; and a receiving member that receives
from the developer carrier a developer adhering to both ends of the
image carrier in a longitudinal direction of the image carrier,
wherein the image carrier has a longitudinal length longer than
that of the transfer member, and is disposed along the longitudinal
direction of the transfer member above the transfer member so that
at least either one of the longitudinal ends thereof is opposite
the longitudinal end of the transfer member, and wherein the
receiving member is disposed below the image carrier so as to be
opposite each other at the longitudinal ends of the image carrier
that are not opposite the longitudinal ends of the transfer
member.
9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the
image carrier is disposed so that the both ends of the image
carrier in the longitudinal direction are not opposite the both
ends of the transfer member in the longitudinal direction, and
wherein at least two of the receiving member are disposed
respectively at positions opposite to both ends of the image
carrier in the longitudinal direction of the image carrier.
10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, further
comprising a cover member that covers the transfer member, wherein
the receiving member is integrally provided on the cover
member.
11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further
comprising: an image carrier on which a developer image is carried;
a shaft member that supports the transfer member; and a bearing
member that rotatably supports the shaft member, wherein a
longitudinal length of the image carrier is formed to be longer
than the longitudinal length of the transfer member, wherein the
image carrier is disposed above the transfer member along the
longitudinal direction of the transfer member so that at least
either one of the longitudinal ends thereof is not opposite the
longitudinal end of the transfer member, and wherein the bearing
member is disposed below the image carrier so as to be opposite the
longitudinal end of the image carrier that are not opposite the
longitudinal ends of the transfer member.
12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, further
comprising a first driving member that is provided on one end of
the shaft member so as not to rotate relatively to the shaft member
and drives the transfer member, wherein the first driving member is
integrally provided with a sliding member to be slidably borne by
the bearing member.
13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the
sliding member and the bearing members are made of a resin.
14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further
comprising: an image carrier on which a developer image is carried;
a second driving member that is provided at the longitudinal end of
the image carrier and drives the image carrier; a shaft member that
supports the transfer member; a first driving member that is
provided on one end of the shaft member so as not to rotate
relatively to the shaft member and drives the transfer member; and
a power input member that inputs power into the second driving
member, wherein a longitudinal length of the image carrier is
formed to be longer than the longitudinal length of the transfer
member, wherein the image carrier is disposed above the transfer
member along the longitudinal direction of the transfer member so
that the longitudinal end where the second driving member is
provided is not opposite the longitudinal end of the transfer
member where the first driving member is provided, and wherein the
power input member and the first driving member are disposed so as
to overlap each other in the longitudinal direction of the transfer
member.
15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the
first driving member is formed to be smaller than the power input
member, and wherein the power input member and the first driving
member are disposed so that a projection surface of the first
driving member is disposed within a projection surface of the power
input member in the longitudinal direction of the transfer
member.
16. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further
comprising: an image carrier on which the developer image is
carried; a shaft member that supports the transfer member; and a
first driving member that is provided on one end of the shaft
member so as not to rotate relatively to the shaft member and
drives the transfer member, wherein a longitudinal length of the
image carrier is formed to be longer than the longitudinal length
of the transfer member, and wherein the image carrier is disposed
above the transfer member along the longitudinal direction of the
transfer member at the other end of the shaft member opposite one
end of the shaft member where the first driving member is provided
so that the longitudinal end of the image carrier is not opposite
the longitudinal end of the transfer member.
17. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further
comprising: an image carrier that is rotatably provided; a charging
unit that is disposed opposite the image carrier, and charges a
charging target region on a surface of the image carrier; an
exposure unit that exposes the image carrier at an exposure
position positioned at a downstream side in the rotation direction
of the image carrier than the charging unit to form an
electrostatic latent image on the image carrier; and a developing
unit that is disposed opposite the image carrier at the downstream
side in the rotation direction of the image carrier than the
exposure position, and develops an electrostatic latent image that
is formed on the image carrier by the exposure unit by applying a
developer with charge to form a developer image on the image
carrier, wherein the transfer unit is disposed opposite the image
carrier at the downstream side in the rotation direction of the
image carrier than the developing unit, and transfers the developer
image formed on the image carrier onto a transfer medium, and
wherein the image forming apparatus further comprising a paper
powder removal unit that is disposed opposite the image carrier at
a position downstream in the rotation direction of the image
carrier than the transfer position of the transfer unit and
upstream than the charging unit, and removes paper powder adhering
to the image carrier from the image carrier, wherein the transfer
unit collects a developer remaining on the image carrier after
transferring by the transfer unit, and wherein a paper powder
removal region from which the paper powder removal unit removes
paper powder on the image carrier is set wider in the rotation axis
direction of the image carrier than the charge target region.
18. The image forming apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the
paper powder removal region is set wider in the rotation axis
direction of the image carrier than a developing region on the
image carrier to which the developing unit applies a developer.
19. The image forming apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the
charging target region is set wider in the rotation axis direction
of the image carrier than a developing region on the image carrier
to which the developing unit applies a developer.
20. The image forming apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the
paper powder removal region is set wider in the rotation axis
direction of the image carrier than a transfer region on the image
carrier in which a developer image is to be transferred by the
transfer unit onto a sheet.
21. The image forming apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the
charging target region is set wider in the rotation axis direction
of the image carrier than a transfer region on the image carrier in
which a developer image is to be transferred onto a sheet by the
transfer unit, and wherein the transfer region is set wider in the
rotation axis direction of the image carrier than a developing
region on the image carrier to which the developing unit applies a
developer.
22. The image forming apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the
paper powder removal unit has a brush disposed opposite the image
carrier, and removes paper powder adhering to the image carrier
from the image carrier with the brush.
23. The image forming apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the
developer is a positively charged toner.
24. The image forming apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the
developer is a positively charged toner, and wherein the paper
powder removal unit has a conductive brush disposed opposite the
image carrier, and selectively removes paper powder adhering to the
image carrier from the image carrier by maintaining the potential
of the brush higher than the surface potential of the image carrier
by applying a predetermined voltage to the brush.
25. A process cartridge comprising: a developer carrier that
carries a developer; an image carrier that is disposed opposite the
developer carrier and carries a developer image; a transfer member
that transfers the developer image onto a transfer medium, and is
detachably attached to an image forming apparatus; and a receiving
member that receives the developer adhering to both longitudinal
ends of the image carrier from the developer carrier, wherein a
longitudinal length of the image carrier is formed to be longer
than the longitudinal length of the transfer member, wherein the
image carrier is disposed above the transfer member along the
longitudinal direction of the transfer member so that at least
either one of the longitudinal ends is not opposite the
longitudinal ends of the transfer member, wherein the receiving
member is disposed below the image carrier so as to be opposite
each other at the longitudinal ends of the image carrier that are
not opposite the longitudinal ends of the transfer member.
26. An image forming apparatus comprising: a developer carrier that
carries a developer; an image carrier that is disposed opposite the
developer carrier and carries the developer image; a transfer
member that transfers a developer image onto a transfer medium; and
a receiving member that receives a developer adhering to both
longitudinal ends of the image carrier, wherein a longitudinal
length of the image carrier is formed to be longer than the
longitudinal length of the transfer member, wherein the image
carrier is disposed above the transfer member along the
longitudinal direction of the transfer member so that at least
either one of the longitudinal ends thereof is not opposite the
longitudinal ends of the transfer member, and wherein the receiving
member is disposed below the image carrier so as to be opposite the
transfer member and at the longitudinal end of the image carrier
that are not opposite the longitudinal ends of the transfer
member.
27. A process cartridge comprising: an image carrier that carries a
developer image; a transfer member that transfers a developer image
onto a transfer medium; a shaft member that supports the transfer
member; and a bearing member that rotatably supports the shaft
member and is detachably attached to an image forming apparatus,
wherein a longitudinal length of the image carrier is formed to be
longer than the longitudinal length of the transfer member, wherein
the image carrier is disposed above the transfer member along the
longitudinal direction of the transfer member so that at least
either one of the longitudinal ends is not opposite the
longitudinal ends of the transfer member, and wherein the bearing
member is disposed below the image carrier so as to be opposite the
image carrier at the longitudinal ends of the image carrier that
are not opposite the longitudinal ends of the transfer member.
28. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image carrier on
which a developer image is carried; a transfer member that
transfers a developer image onto a transfer medium; a shaft member
that supports the transfer member; and a bearing member that
rotatably supports the shaft member, wherein a longitudinal length
of the image carrier is formed to be longer than the longitudinal
length of the transfer member, wherein the image carrier is
disposed above the transfer member along the longitudinal direction
of the transfer member so that at least either one of the
longitudinal ends is not opposite the longitudinal end of the
transfer member, and wherein the bearing member is disposed below
the image carrier so as to be opposite the image carrier at the
longitudinal ends of the image carrier that are not opposite the
longitudinal ends of the transfer member.
29. A process cartridge comprising: an image carrier that carries a
developer image; a second driving member that is provided at the
longitudinal end of the image carrier and drives the image carrier;
a transfer member that transfers a developer image onto a transfer
medium; a shaft member that supports the transfer member; a first
driving member that is provided at one end of the shaft member so
as not to-rotate relatively to the shaft member and drives the
transfer member; and a power input member that inputs power into
the second driving member, and is detachably attached to an image
forming apparatus, wherein a longitudinal length of the image
carrier is formed to be longer than the longitudinal length of the
transfer member, wherein the image carrier is disposed above the
transfer member along the longitudinal direction of the transfer
member so that the longitudinal end where the second driving member
is provided is not opposite the longitudinal end of the transfer
member where the first driving member is provided, and wherein the
power input member and the first driving member are disposed so as
to overlap in the longitudinal direction of the transfer
member.
30. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image carrier that
carries a developer image; a second driving member that is provided
on the longitudinal end of the image carrier and drives the image
carrier; a transfer member that transfers the developer image onto
a transfer medium; a shaft member that supports the transfer
member; a first driving member that is provided on one end of the
shaft member so as not to rotate relatively to the shaft member and
drives the transfer member; and a power input member that inputs
power into the second driving member, wherein a longitudinal length
of the image carrier is formed to be longer than the longitudinal
length of the transfer member, wherein the image carrier is
disposed above the transfer member along the longitudinal direction
of the transfer member so that the longitudinal end where the
second driving member is provided is not opposite the longitudinal
end of the transfer member where the first driving member is
provided, and wherein the power input member and the first driving
member are disposed so as to overlap in the longitudinal direction
of the transfer member.
31. The image forming apparatus comprising: an image carrier that
is rotatably provided; a charging unit that is disposed opposite
the image carrier, and charges a charging target region on a
surface of the image carrier; an exposure unit that exposes the
image carrier at an exposure position positioned at a downstream
side in the rotation direction of the image carrier than the
charging unit to form an electrostatic latent image on the image
carrier; a developing unit that is disposed opposite the image
carrier at the downstream side in the rotation direction of the
image carrier than the exposure position, and develops an
electrostatic latent image that is formed on the image carrier by
the exposure unit by applying a developer with charge to form a
developer image on the image carrier; a transfer unit that is
disposed opposite the image carrier at the downstream side in the
rotation direction of the image carrier than the developing unit,
and transfers the developer image formed on the image carrier onto
a transfer medium; and a paper powder removal unit that is disposed
opposite the image carrier at a position downstream in the rotation
direction of the image carrier than the transfer position of the
transfer unit and upstream than the charging unit, and removes
paper powder adhering to the image carrier from the image carrier,
wherein the transfer unit collects a developer remaining on the
image carrier after transferring by the transfer unit, and wherein
a paper powder removal region from which the paper powder removal
unit removes paper powder on the image carrier is set wider in the
rotation axis direction of the image carrier than the charge target
region.
32. The image forming apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the
paper powder removal region is set wider in the rotation axis
direction of the image carrier than a developing region on the
image carrier to which the developing unit applies a developer.
33. The image forming apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the
charging target region is set wider in the rotation axis direction
of the image carrier than a developing region on the image carrier
to which the developing unit applies a developer.
34. The image forming apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the
paper powder removal region is set wider in the rotation axis
direction of the image carrier than a transfer region on the image
carrier in which a developer image is to be transferred by the
transfer unit onto a sheet.
35. The image forming apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the
charging target region is set wider in the rotation axis direction
of the image carrier than a transfer region on the image carrier in
which a developer image is to be transferred onto a sheet by the
transfer unit, and wherein the transfer region is set wider in the
rotation axis direction of the image carrier than a developing
region on the image carrier to which the developing unit applies a
developer.
36. The image forming apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the
paper powder removal unit has a brush disposed opposite the image
carrier, and removes paper powder adhering to the image carrier
from the image carrier with the brush.
37. The image forming apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the
developer is a positively charged toner.
38. The image forming apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the
developer is a positively charged toner, and wherein the paper
powder removal unit has a conductive brush disposed opposite the
image carrier, and selectively removes paper powder adhering to the
image carrier from the image carrier by maintaining the potential
of the brush higher than the surface potential of the image carrier
by applying a predetermined voltage to the brush.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus
such as a laser printer, and a process cartridge to be detachably
attached to the image forming apparatus. The present invention also
relates to an image forming apparatus that is configured so that a
developer remaining on an image carrier after transferring is
collected by a developing unit.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] In an image forming apparatus such as a laser printer, a
process cartridge including a developing roller which carries
toner, a photoconductor drum which is disposed opposite the
developing roller and on which an electrostatic latent image is
formed, and a transfer roller which is disposed opposite the
photoconductor drum to transfer a toner image onto a sheet is
detachably attached.
[0005] On the photoconductor drum, a toner is supplied from the
developing roller, and an electrostatic latent image is developed,
whereby a toner image is carried. To the transfer roller, a
transfer bias for transferring the toner image onto a sheet is
applied. The toner image carried on the photoconductor drum is
transferred onto a sheet while the sheet passes between the
photoconductor drum and the transfer roller, whereby the image is
formed on the sheet.
[0006] In such a process cartridge, the length in the axial
direction of the transfer roller for receiving the sheet is formed
to be longer than the width of the sheet with a maximum width on
which an image can be formed with the image forming apparatus, and
for example, it is generally known that the contact length between
the transfer roller and drum is set to be longer than the maximum
sheet width (for example, see JP-A-6-035279).
[0007] On the other hand, an electrophotographic printer apparatus
has been conventionally known as an image forming apparatus. In
this type of image forming apparatus, a photoconductor as an image
carrier is exposed to form an electrostatic latent image on the
photoconductor, and forms a developer image on the photoconductor
by developing the electrostatic latent image by applying a charged
developer (toner, etc.) to the photoconductor.
[0008] When the developer is applied, a developing bias is supplied
to a developer carrier (developing roller, etc.) of a development
unit that is made to contact with the photoconductor to form an
electrical field in a direction of moving the developer toward the
photoconductor between the developer carrier and the
photoconductor, and then the developer is applied. Then, a sheet is
conveyed between the photoconductor and the transfer member
(transfer roller, etc.) disposed opposite the photoconductor, and a
transfer bias is supplied to the transfer member, whereby an
electrical field is formed between the transfer member and the
photoconductor in the direction of moving the developer toward the
sheet, and a developer image carried by the photoconductor is
transferred onto the sheet.
[0009] As this type of image forming apparatus, there is known an
image forming apparatus which collects a developer remaining on the
image carrier after transferring by using an exclusive developer
collector (cleaner), and a cleaner-less image forming apparatus
which does not have the exclusive developer collector but collects
the developer remaining on the image carrier after transferring by
a development unit.
[0010] As a cleaner-less image forming apparatus, there is known an
apparatus having a paper powder removal device for removing paper
powder from the image carrier (see JP-A-2001-005357).
[0011] In the cleaner-less image forming apparatus, when a
developer remaining on the image carrier after transferring is
collected by the development unit, there is a possibility that the
development unit also collects paper powder adhering to the image
carrier, simultaneously. In this case, the paper powder is mixed
into the development unit, resulting in deterioration in
development performance and lowering in quality of printed images.
The paper powder removal device is provided inside the image
forming apparatus for the purpose of preventing the paper powder
adhering to the image carrier being collected and this deteriorates
the development performance and quality lowering of printed
images.
[0012] In detail, a paper powder removal device having a conductive
brush is known. To the brush, a voltage for selectively adsorbing
only the paper powder without adsorbing the developer is applied.
The brush also functions to disperse the developer remaining on the
image carrier after transferring so that the remaining developer is
easily collected by the development unit, so that the brush is
widely used for the paper powder removal device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] When the length in the axial direction of the transfer
roller is formed to be longer than the width of the sheet with a
maximum width, when a toner image is transferred onto a sheet with
the maximum width, in particular, a sheet with a width narrower
than the sheet with the maximum width, on both ends in the width
direction of the sheet, there is a range in which the
photoconductor drum and the transfer roller come into direct
contact with each other. In this case, in this range, a transfer
bias is not applied to the sheet and a transfer current leaks.
Therefore, in particular, for a sheet with a narrow width,
considering the leak, the transfer bias must be set so as to
increase the transfer current. Furthermore, in an environment with
a high temperature and a low humidity, the resistance of the sheet
increases and the resistance of the transfer roller lowers, so that
the transfer current more easily leaks. Therefore, in such an
environment with a high temperature and a low humidity, the
transfer bias must be set so as to increase the transfer
current.
[0014] On the other hand, the transfer current that the
photoconductor drum can withstand is limited, and if the transfer
current excessively increases, the photoconductor drum is
damaged.
[0015] Particularly, when an image is transferred onto a sheet with
a narrow width in an environment with a high temperature and a low
humidity, the necessary transfer current value exceeds the transfer
current value that the photoconductor drum can withstand in some
cases. In such a case, if the transfer current value is lowered to
prevent the photoconductor drum from being damaged, a transfer
failure occurs, and on the other hand, when the transfer current
value is raised to prevent the transfer failure, the photoconductor
drum is damaged.
[0016] Therefore, one of objects of the invention is to provide an
image forming apparatus which can apply a proper transfer bias
according to ease of occurrence of transfer bias leak, and can
reduce damage on the apparatus caused by excessive application of a
transfer current while reducing a transfer failure caused by
shortage in application of a transfer current, and to provide a
process cartridge to be attached to the image forming
apparatus.
[0017] On the other hand, in the above described type of a
conventional paper powder removal device, when the brush is used
for a long period of time, there is a possibility that paper powder
accumulated on the brush splatters from both ends of the brush
along the rotation axis of the image carrier, adheres to the
electrodes of the charger (discharging wire, etc.) and causes
abnormal discharge from the charger. Furthermore, there is a
possibility that paper powder enters from the edge of a region on
the image carrier from which the paper powder removal device can
remove paper powder and the paper powder that has entered harmfully
influences the charger.
[0018] Therefore, another one of objects of the invention is to
provide an image forming apparatus which can restrain abnormal
discharge due to paper powder at the time of charging by the
charger.
[0019] According to a first aspect of the invention, there is
provided an image forming apparatus including: a transfer member
that transfers a developer image onto a transfer medium to form an
image on the transfer medium; a bias applying unit that applies a
transfer bias to the transfer member; and a bias control unit that
controls the transfer bias to be applied to the transfer member by
the bias applying unit, wherein a longitudinal length of the
transfer member is formed to be shorter than a width of the
transfer medium having a maximum width on which the image is to be
formed with the image forming apparatus.
[0020] According to a second aspect of the invention, there is
provided a process cartridge including: a developer carrier that
carries a developer; an image carrier that is disposed opposite the
developer carrier and carries a developer image; a transfer member
that transfers the developer image onto a transfer medium, and is
detachably attached to an image forming apparatus; and a receiving
member that receives the developer adhering to both longitudinal
ends of the image carrier from the developer carrier, wherein a
longitudinal length of the image carrier is formed to be longer
than the longitudinal length of the transfer member, wherein the
image carrier is disposed above the transfer member along the
longitudinal direction of the transfer member so that at least
either one of the longitudinal ends is not opposite the
longitudinal ends of the transfer member, wherein the receiving
member is disposed below the image carrier so as to be opposite
each other at the longitudinal ends of the image carrier that are
not opposite the longitudinal ends of the transfer member.
[0021] According to a third aspect of the invention, there is
provided an image forming apparatus including: a developer carrier
that carries a developer; an image carrier that is disposed
opposite the developer carrier and carries the developer image; a
transfer member that transfers a developer image onto a transfer
medium; and a receiving member that receives a developer adhering
to both longitudinal ends of the image carrier, wherein a
longitudinal length of the image carrier is formed to be longer
than the longitudinal length of the transfer member, wherein the
image carrier is disposed above the transfer member along the
longitudinal direction of the transfer member so that at least
either one of the longitudinal ends thereof is not opposite the
longitudinal ends of the transfer member, and wherein the receiving
member is disposed below the image carrier so as to be opposite the
transfer member and at the longitudinal end of the image carrier
that are not opposite the longitudinal ends of the transfer
member.
[0022] According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is
provided a process cartridge including: an image carrier that
carries a developer image; a transfer member that transfers a
developer image onto a transfer medium; a shaft member that
supports the transfer member; and a bearing member that rotatably
supports the shaft member and is detachably attached to an image
forming apparatus, wherein a longitudinal length of the image
carrier is formed to be longer than the longitudinal length of the
transfer member, wherein the image carrier is disposed above the
transfer member along the longitudinal direction of the transfer
member so that at least either one of the longitudinal ends is not
opposite the longitudinal ends of the transfer member, and wherein
the bearing member is disposed below the image carrier so as to be
opposite the image carrier at the longitudinal ends of the image
carrier that are not opposite the longitudinal ends of the transfer
member.
[0023] According to a fifth aspect of the invention, there is
provided an image forming apparatus including: an image carrier on
which a developer image is carried; a transfer member that
transfers a developer image onto a transfer medium; a shaft member
that supports the transfer member; and a bearing member that
rotatably supports the shaft member, wherein a longitudinal length
of the image carrier is formed to be longer than the longitudinal
length of the transfer member, wherein the image carrier is
disposed above the transfer member along the longitudinal direction
of the transfer member so that at least either one of the
longitudinal ends is not opposite the longitudinal end of the
transfer member, and wherein the bearing member is disposed below
the image carrier so as to be opposite the image carrier at the
longitudinal ends of the image carrier that are not opposite the
longitudinal ends of the transfer member.
[0024] According to a sixth aspect of the invention, there is
provided a process cartridge including: an image carrier that
carries a developer image; a second driving member that is provided
at the longitudinal end of the image carrier and drives the image
carrier; a transfer member that transfers a developer image onto a
transfer medium; a shaft member that supports the transfer member;
a first driving member that is provided at one end of the shaft
member so as not to rotate relatively to the shaft member and
drives the transfer member; and a power input member that inputs
power into the second driving member, and is detachably attached to
an image forming apparatus, wherein a longitudinal length of the
image carrier is formed to be longer than the longitudinal length
of the transfer member, wherein the image carrier is disposed above
the transfer member along the longitudinal direction of the
transfer member so that the longitudinal end where the second
driving member is provided is not opposite the longitudinal end of
the transfer member where the first driving member is provided, and
wherein the power input member and the first driving member are
disposed so as to overlap in the longitudinal direction of the
transfer member.
[0025] According to a seventh aspect of the invention, there is
provided an image forming apparatus including: an image carrier
that carries a developer image; a second driving member that is
provided on the longitudinal end of the image carrier and drives
the image carrier; a transfer member that transfers the developer
image onto a transfer medium; a shaft member that supports the
transfer member; a first driving member that is provided on one end
of the shaft member so as not to rotate relatively to the shaft
member and drives the transfer member; and a power input member
that inputs power into the second driving member, wherein a
longitudinal length of the image carrier is formed to be longer
than the longitudinal length of the transfer member, wherein the
image carrier is disposed above the transfer member along the
longitudinal direction of the transfer member so that the
longitudinal end where the second driving member is provided is not
opposite the longitudinal end of the transfer member where the
first driving member is provided, and wherein the power input
member and the first driving member are disposed so as to overlap
in the longitudinal direction of the transfer member.
[0026] According to an eighth aspect of the invention, there is
provided an image forming apparatus including: an image carrier
that is rotatably provided; a charging unit that is disposed
opposite the image carrier, and charges a charging target region on
a surface of the image carrier; an exposure unit that exposes the
image carrier at an exposure position positioned at a downstream
side in the rotation direction of the image carrier than the
charging unit to form an electrostatic latent image on the image
carrier; a developing unit that is disposed opposite the image
carrier at the downstream side in the rotation direction of the
image carrier than the exposure position, and develops an
electrostatic latent image that is formed on the image carrier by
the exposure unit by applying a developer with charge to form a
developer image on the image carrier; a transfer unit that is
disposed opposite the image carrier at the downstream side in the
rotation direction of the image carrier than the developing unit,
and transfers the developer image formed on the image carrier onto
a transfer medium; and a paper powder removal unit that is disposed
opposite the image carrier at a position downstream in the rotation
direction of the image carrier than the transfer position of the
transfer unit and upstream than the charging unit, and removes
paper powder adhering to the image carrier from the image carrier,
wherein the transfer unit collects a developer remaining on the
image carrier after transferring by the transfer unit, and wherein
a paper powder removal region from which the paper powder removal
unit removes paper powder on the image carrier is set wider in the
rotation axis direction of the image carrier than the charge target
region.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0027] These and other objects and advantages of the present
invention will become more fully apparent from the following
detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings, in
which:
[0028] FIG. 1 is a main part side sectional view showing a first
embodiment of the laser printer as an image forming apparatus of
the invention;
[0029] FIG. 2 is a main part side sectional view showing the
process cartridge of the laser printer shown in FIG. 1;
[0030] FIG. 3 is a main part front sectional view showing the drum
cartridge of the process cartridge shown in FIG. 2;
[0031] FIG. 4 is an arrangement view showing arrangement of gears
(in a manner that the projection surface of the transfer roller
gear is disposed within the projection surface of the input gear in
the axial direction of the roller shaft) in the process cartridge
shown in FIG. 2;
[0032] FIG. 5 is a plan view describing the length in the axial
direction of the transfer roller in the process cartridge shown in
FIG. 2;
[0033] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing processing of the transfer
bias control program (in a manner of switching constant current
control and constant voltage control);
[0034] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing processing of the transfer
bias control program (in a manner of switching the first constant
current control and the second constant current control);
[0035] FIG. 8 is a main part front sectional view showing the drum
cartridge of the process cartridge (in a manner that the drum main
body and the roller member are almost equal to each other in length
in their axial directions);
[0036] FIG. 9 is an arrangement view showing arrangement of gears
in the process cartridge (in a manner that the projection surface
of the transfer roller gear and the projection surface of the input
gear do not overlap each other in the axial direction of the roller
shaft);
[0037] FIG. 10 is an arrangement view showing arrangement of gears
in the process cartridge (in a manner that the projection surface
of the transfer roller gear and the projection-surface of the input
gear partially overlap each other in the axial direction of the
roller shaft);
[0038] FIG. 11 is a main part perspective view showing the drum
cartridge of the process cartridge (in a manner that toner
reservoir parts are provided: transfer roller gear side);
[0039] FIG. 12 is a main part perspective view showing the drum
cartridge of the process cartridge (in a manner that toner
reservoir parts are provided: the side opposite the transfer roller
gear);
[0040] FIG. 13 is a main part perspective view showing the drum
cartridge of the process cartridge (in a manner that the drum main
body and the roller member are almost equal to each other in length
in their axial directions);
[0041] FIG. 14 is an explanatory view showing the schematic
sectional configuration of the laser printer according to a second
embodiment;
[0042] FIG. 15 is an explanatory view schematically showing the
electrical configuration of the laser printer;
[0043] FIGS. 16A and 16B are a schematic sectional view and a plan
view showing the configuration of a charger;
[0044] FIG. 17 is an explanatory view showing the contact state
between a cleaning brush and a photoconductor drum; and
[0045] FIG. 18 is an explanatory view showing the relationship of
the lengths of the charging target region RA, the developing region
RB, the transfer region RC, and the paper powder removal region
RD.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0046] Referring now to the accompanying drawings, a description
will be given in detail of preferred embodiments of the
invention.
[0047] FIG. 1 is a main part side sectional view showing a first
embodiment of a laser printer as an image forming apparatus of the
invention. In FIG. 1, the laser printer 1 includes a feeder part 4
for feeding a sheet 3 as a transfer medium and an image forming
part 5 for forming an image on the fed sheet 3 inside a main body
casing 2.
[0048] The feeder part 4 includes a paper feed tray 6 to be
detachably attached to the bottom inside the main body casing 2, a
sheet pressing plate 7 provided inside the paper feed tray 6, a
sheet feed roller 8 and a paper feed pad 9 provided above one end
of the paper feed tray 6, a paper powder removal roller is 10
disposed opposite the sheet feed roller 8, and a resist roller 11
provided at the opposite side of the paper powder removal roller 10
with respect to the sheet feed roller 8.
[0049] The sheet pressing plate 7 is provided so that a sheet 3 can
be stacked thereon, and supported in a manner enabling it to swing
on the end more distant from the sheet feed roller 8, whereby the
nearer end becomes movable vertically. Furthermore, the sheet
pressing plate 7 is pressed upward by a spring that is not shown
from the back side. Therefore, as the amount of stack of the sheet
3 increases, the sheet pressing plate 7 is made to swing downward
around the end more distant from the sheet feed roller 8 against
the spring pressing force.
[0050] The sheet feed roller 8 and the paper feed pad 9 are
disposed opposite each other, and the paper feed pad 9 is pressed
toward the sheet feed roller 8 by a spring 12 provided on the back
side of the paper feed pad 9.
[0051] The top sheet 3 on the sheet pressing plate 7 is pressed
toward the sheet feed roller 8 by a spring that is not shown from
the back side of the sheet pressing plate 7 and sandwiched between
the sheet feed roller 8 and the paper feed pad 9 by rotation of the
sheet feed roller 8, and then fed one by one.
[0052] The fed sheet 3 is removed of paper powder by the paper
powder removal roller 10 and then conveyed to the resist roller 11.
The resist roller 11 has a pair of rollers, and conveys the sheet 3
to a transfer position of the image forming part 5 (between a drum
main body 40 of a photoconductor drum 24 described later and the
roller member 45 of the transfer roller 27) after applying resist
to the sheet.
[0053] The image forming part 5 includes a scanner unit 13, a
process cartridge 14, and a fixing part 15.
[0054] The scanner unit 13 is provided at the upper side inside the
main body casing 2, and includes a laser emitting part (not shown),
a polygon mirror 16 to be driven to rotate, lenses 17 and 18, and
reflecting mirrors 19, 20, and 21.
[0055] A laser beam based on image data emitted from the laser
emitting part is, as shown by the chain line, transmitted through
or reflected on the polygon mirror 16, the lens 17, the reflecting
mirrors 19 and 20, the lens 18, and the reflecting mirror 21 in
order, and irradiated onto the surface of the photoconductor drum
24 described later of the process cartridge 14 by means of high
speed scanning.
[0056] The process cartridge 14 is provided below the scanner unit
13 and includes, as shown in FIG. 2, a drum cartridge 22 to be
detachably attached to the main body casing 2 and a developing
cartridge 23 to be detachably attached to the drum cartridge
22.
[0057] The drum cartridge 22 includes an upper cover member 26 in
which the photoconductor drum 24 and a scorotron type charger 25
are provided and a lower cover member 28 as a cover member in which
transfer roller 27 is provided.
[0058] The developing cartridge 23 includes a toner housing chamber
29, a supply roller 30, a developing roller 31 as a developer
carrier, and a layer thickness limiting blade 32.
[0059] In the toner housing chamber 29, a toner made of a
positively charged non-magnetic one component is housed. For this
toner, a polymer toner obtained by copolymerizing polymeric
monomers such as a styrene-based monomer such as styrene and an
acryl-based monomer such as acrylic acid, alkyl (C1-C4) acrylate,
alkyl (C1-C4) methacrylate, etc., by means of suspension
polymerization is used. Such a polymer toner has a spherical form
and excellent fluidity, and can form an image with high quality.
Such a toner is blended with a coloring agent such as carbon black
and wax, and for improvement in fluidity, added with an external
additive such as silica. The average particle diameter of the toner
is in a range approximately from 6 mm to 10 mm.
[0060] Furthermore, at the center of the toner housing chamber 29,
a rotation shaft 33 is provided along the axial direction of the
developing roller 31. On this rotation shaft 33, an agitator 34 for
agitating the toner inside the toner housing chamber 29 and a
cleaner 36 for cleaning windows 35 that are disposed opposite each
other on both sides in the width direction (same as the axial
direction of the developing roller 31) of the toner housing chamber
29 for detection of the remaining amount of toner.
[0061] Then, the toner inside the toner housing chamber 29 is
agitated by the agitator 34 supported by the rotation shaft 33 when
the rotation shaft 33 rotates in the direction of the arrow
(clockwise), and then discharged toward the supply roller 30 from a
toner discharge opening 37 of the toner housing chamber 29. By this
rotation of the rotation shaft 33, the windows 35 are cleaned by
the cleaner 36.
[0062] The supply roller 30 is provided so as to be rotatable in
the arrow direction (counterclockwise) at the diagonally lower side
of the toner discharge opening 37. In this supply roller 30, a
roller member made of a conductive sponge is covered on a metal
roller shaft, and both ends of the roller shaft are supported onto
the developing cartridge 23 in a rotatable manner.
[0063] The developing roller 31 is disposed at the diagonally upper
side opposite the supply roller 30 so as to be rotatable in the
arrow direction (counterclockwise). This developing roller 31 is
formed by covering a roller member made of a conductive elastic
rubber on a metal roller shaft. In greater detail, the roller
member of the developing roller 31 is formed by coating a coating
layer made of urethane rubber or silicone rubber containing
fluorine on the surface of a roller layer made of conductive
urethane rubber or silicone rubber containing carbon fine
particles. Furthermore, this developing roller 31 is supported on
both ends of the roller shaft to the developing cartridge 23 in a
rotatable manner.
[0064] In addition, a developing bias is applied to the developing
roller 31 at the time of development.
[0065] Furthermore, these supply roller 30 and developing roller 31
are made to contact to each other while they are compressed to some
degree.
[0066] The layer thickness limiting blade 32 has a leaf spring
member 38 and a pressure contact part 39. The leaf spring member 38
is supported on one end to the developing cartridge 23 above the
developing roller 31, and is provided with a pressure contact part
39 on the other end. The pressure contact part 39 is formed so as
to have a roughly semicircular sectional shape and made of an
insulative silicone rubber. The pressure contact part 39 presses
the surface of the developing roller 31 from the side by the
elastic force of the leaf spring member 38.
[0067] Then, the toner discharged from the toner discharging
opening 37 is supplied to the developing roller 31 in response to
the rotation of the supply roller 30, and at this point,
frictionally positively electrified between the supply roller 30
and the developing roller 31, and furthermore, the toner supplied
onto the developing roller 31 enters between the pressure contact
part 39 and the developing roller 31 according to the rotation of
the developing roller 31 and carried onto the developing roller 31
as a thin layer.
[0068] The photoconductor drum 24 is disposed at the side of the
developing roller 31 so as to be opposite the developing roller 31
and rotatable in the arrow direction (clockwise) with respect to
the drum cartridge 22. This photoconductor drum 24 includes, as
shown in FIG. 3, a drum main body 40 as an image carrier and a drum
gear 41 that is provided on one end in the axial direction of the
drum main body 40 as a second driving member for driving the drum
main body 40.
[0069] The drum main body 40 has a cylindrical shape, and its
length in the axial direction is formed to be longer than the
length in the axial direction of the roller member 45 described
later of the transfer roller 27, and disposed along the axial
direction of the roller member 45 above the roller member 45 so
that both ends (both end faces) in the axial direction of the drum
main body 40 are not opposite both ends (both end faces) in the
axial direction of the roller member 45, that is, in a positional
relationship where the central portion in the axial direction of
the roller member 45 and the central portion in the longitudinal
direction of the drum main body 40 roughly coincide with each
other, and shaft-borne on the upper cover member 26 in a rotatable
manner. Furthermore, the drum main body 40 is grounded, and its
surface is formed by a positively charged layer made of
polycarbonate, etc.
[0070] The drum gear 41 is provided so as not to rotate relatively
to the drum main body 40 on one end of the drum main body 40, and
integrally includes a drum gear part 42 on the outer side in the
axial direction, and a drum flange gear part 43 having the same
diameter as that of the drum gear part 42 on the inner side in the
axial direction.
[0071] The drum gear part 42 is disposed so that, while the process
cartridge 14 is attached inside the main body casing 2, as shown in
FIG. 3, an input gear 44 as a power input member provided inside
the main body casing 2 and the drum gear part 42 are disposed at
the upper and lower sides, respectively, adjacent to each other,
and as shown in FIG. 4, they are engaged while the rotation center
of the drum gear part 42 and the rotation center of the input gear
44 are disposed on the same vertical line. Into the input gear 44,
power is inputted from a motor that is provided inside the main
body casing 2 although it is not shown, and the input gear 44
inputs the power into the drum gear part 42.
[0072] The scorotron type charger 25 is provided above the
photoconductor drum 24 by leaving a predetermined space so as not
to come into contact with the drum main body 40 as shown in FIG. 2.
This scorotron type charger 25 is a positive-charging scorotron
type charger for generating corona discharge from a charging wire
of tungsten, etc., and evenly positively charges the surface of the
drum main body 40.
[0073] When power is inputted from the input gear 44 into the drum
gear part 42, the drum main body 40 is rotated, and the surface of
the drum main body 40 is evenly positively charged by the scorotron
type charger 25 in response to the rotation of the drum main body
40, and then exposed by means of laser beam high speed scanning
from the scanner unit 16, and then an electrostatic latent image
based on image data is formed.
[0074] Then, when the toner carried on the developing roller 31 and
positively charged comes into opposite contact with the drum main
body 40 in response to the rotation of the developing roller 31,
the toner is supplied to the portion of the electrostatic latent
image formed on the surface of the drum main body 40, that is, in
the surface of the drum main body 40 evenly positively charged, the
exposed portion that has been exposed to a laser beam and lowered
in potential, and the toner is selectively carried, whereby the
image is made visible, and accordingly, inversion development is
realized and a toner image is carried on the surface of the drum
main body 40.
[0075] The transfer roller 27 is disposed opposite the
photoconductor drum 27 below the photoconductor drum 27, and is
supported by the drum cartridge 22 so as to be rotatable in the
arrow direction (counterclockwise).
[0076] This transfer roller 27 includes, as shown in FIG. 3, a
cylindrical roller member 45 as a transfer member made of a
conductive elastic rubber, and a roller shaft 46 as a metal shaft
member that is inserted into the roller member 45 so as not to
relatively rotate and supports the roller member 45.
[0077] The roller member 45 is formed so that the length in the
axial direction thereof is shorter than the length in the axial
direction of the drum main body 40, and is disposed in contact with
the drum main body 40 along the axial direction of the drum main
body 40 below the drum main body 40.
[0078] In greater detail, the roller member 45 is formed so that,
as shown in FIG. 5, the length in the axial direction of the roller
member 45 (transfer effective width W1) is shorter than the width
of the sheet 3 with a maximum width (maximum sheet width W2) on
which an image can be formed with this laser printer 1, and longer
than the width capable of being formed with an image (maximum image
forming width W3) in this laser printer 1. More concretely, for
example, when the maximum sheet width W2 is 216 mm (letter size)
and the maximum image forming width W3 is approximately 208 mm, the
transfer effective width W1 is set to 210 through 215 mm.
[0079] On one end in the axial direction of the roller shaft 46, a
transfer roller gear part 47 opposite the drum gear 41 in the
vertical direction is provided so as not to rotate relatively to
the roller shaft 46.
[0080] This transfer roller gear part 47 is made of a resin, and
integrally includes a transfer roller gear 48 as a first driving
member for driving the roller member 45 and a sliding cylinder part
49 as a sliding member to be slidably received by a bearing member
50 that is described next.
[0081] The transfer roller gear 48 is disposed at the outer side in
the axial direction on one end of the roller shaft 46, and the
sliding cylinder part 49 is disposed at the inner side in the axial
direction on one end of the roller shaft 46.
[0082] As shown in FIG. 3, the transfer roller gear 48 is formed to
have a diameter smaller than that of the input gear 44 and is
disposed adjacent to a drum flange gear part 43 so that the drum
flange gear part 43 comes upward and the transfer roller gear 48
comes lower, and as shown in FIG. 4, the drum flange gear part 43
and the transfer roller gear 48 are engaged with each other while
their rotation centers are disposed on the same vertical line.
[0083] In addition, the transfer roller gear 48 is disposed as
shown in FIG. 3 so that the input gear 44 comes outward and the
transfer roller gear 48 comes inward in the axial direction of the
roller shaft 46 while overlapping each other. In greater detail, as
shown in FIG. 4, in the axial direction of the roller shaft 46,
they are disposed so that the projection surface of the transfer
roller gear 48 is disposed within the projection surface of the
input gear 44, and the portion of the transfer roller gear 48
engaged with the drum flange gear part 43 projects and overlaps in
the axial direction the portion of the input gear 44 engaged with
the drum gear part 42, and the transfer roller gear 48 comes into
inner contact with the input gear 44.
[0084] As shown in FIG. 3, the sliding cylinder part 49 has a
cylindrical shape, and is formed so as to be smaller in diameter
than the transfer roller gear 48, and is slidably received by the
bearing member 50 disposed inside the lower cover member 28.
[0085] Namely, the lower cover member 28 is made of a resin and
has, as shown in FIG. 2, a rough C shape integrally including a
lower plate 51 covering the lower side of the transfer roller 27 in
the circumferential direction and, as shown in FIG. 3, side plates
52 bent upward from the lower plate 51 at both outer sides in the
axial direction of the roller shaft 46, and inside the lower plate
51, the bearing members 50 are disposed. One side plate 52 is
disposed between the input gear 44 and the transfer roller gear
part 47, and the other side plate 52 is disposed at the side outer
than the other end in the axial direction of the roller shaft 46.
Furthermore, on the other side plate 52, an electrode 53 is
provided which is disposed axially opposite the other end in the
axial direction of the roller shaft 46 and is in contact with the
other end in the axial direction of the roller shaft 46 in a
slidable manner.
[0086] Furthermore, in the lower plate 51, openings 65 are formed
at positions opposite the respective bearing members, and in the
openings 65, pressing springs 66 one end portions of which are
fixed to the main body casing 2 are inserted vertically.
[0087] The bearing members 50 are made of a resin, and between the
drum main body 40 and the lower plate 51, that is, below the drum
main body 40, the bearing members 50 are provided opposite each
other at both ends in the axial direction of the drum main body 40
which are not opposite both ends in the axial direction of the
roller member 45. Thereby, the roller member 45 is pressed toward
the drum main body 40 by the pressing forces of the pressing
springs 66. One bearing member 50 shaft-bears the sliding cylinder
part 49 in a rotatable manner and supports the sliding cylinder
part 49. The other bearing member 50 shaft-bears the roller shaft
46 in a rotatable manner and supports the roller shaft 46.
[0088] To the electrode 53 that comes into contact with the other
end in the axial direction of the roller shaft 46, a bias applying
device 54 as a bias applying unit for applying a transfer bias is
connected.
[0089] This bias applying device 54 is provided inside the main
body casing 2, and can perform constant current control and
constant voltage control in processing of a transfer bias control
program described later. Thus, by making it possible to perform
constant current control and constant voltage control, as described
later, a proper transfer bias can be applied by selecting the
constant current control or the constant voltage control depending
on whether or not the sheet width (transfer sheet width W4, see
FIG. 5) of the sheet 3 for transferring is equal to or longer than
the length in the axial direction of the roller member 45 (transfer
effective width W1, see FIG. 5).
[0090] Furthermore, the bias applying device 54 is connected to a
CPU 55 as a bias control unit provided inside the main body casing
2.
[0091] The CPU 55 controls the respective parts including the bias
applying device 54, and includes a ROM 56 and a RAM 57. In the ROM
56, various programs, for example, a transfer bias control program
for controlling a transfer bias described later and a transfer bias
table described later are stored. In the RAM 57, temporary values
for executing various programs are stored.
[0092] At the time of transfer, when power is inputted into the
input gear 44 from a motor that is not shown, the power is inputted
into the drum gear part 42 that engages with the input gear 44,
whereby the drum main body 40 is rotated. In addition, since the
drum flange gear part 43 is rotated integrally with the drum gear
part 42, the power is inputted into the transfer roller gear 48
that engages with the drum flange gear part 43. Thereby, the roller
member 45 is rotated together with the roller shaft 46.
[0093] Furthermore, at the time of transfer, the transfer bias
control program in the ROM 56 is started by the CPU 55 to control
the bias applying device 54, whereby a transfer bias is applied to
the roller shaft 46 via the electrode 53 from the bias applying
device 54. The transfer bias is applied to the roller member 45
from the roller shaft 46 for transferring the toner image carried
on the surface of the drum main body 40 onto the sheet 3.
[0094] Then, when the sheet 3 is conveyed from the resist roller 11
to a position (transfer position) between the drum main body 40 and
the roller member 45, by the rotation of the drum main body 40 and
the roller member 45, while the sheet 3 is conveyed between these,
the toner image carried on the surface of the drum main body 40 is
transferred onto the sheet by the transfer bias applied to the
roller member 45.
[0095] The fixing part 15 is provided at the downstream side of the
direction of conveyance of the sheet 3 at the side of the process
cartridge 14. The fixing part 15 includes a heating roller 58, a
pressurizing roller 59, and a pair of conveying rollers 60.
[0096] The heating roller 58 includes a metal roller part and a
halogen lamp for heating inside the roller part. The pressurizing
roller 59 is disposed opposite the heating roller 58 so as to press
the heating roller 58 below the heating roller 58. The pair of
conveying rollers 60 are disposed at the downstream sides of the
direction of conveyance of the sheet 3 of the heating roller 58 and
the pressurizing roller 59.
[0097] At this fixing part 15, the toner transferred onto the sheet
3 at the transfer position is heat-fixed while the sheet 3 passes
between the heating roller 58 and the pressurizing roller 59, and
thereafter, the sheet 3 is conveyed to an eject path 61 by the pair
of conveying rollers 60.
[0098] On the upper surface of the main body casing 2, a sheet
output tray 62 for receiving the sheet 3 in a manner enabling the
sheets to stack. Above the side of the sheet output tray 62
opposite the fixing part 15, an eject roller 63 is provided.
Between the eject roller 63 and the conveying roller 60 of the
fixing part 15, a conveying path 61 for conveying the sheet 3 is
provided.
[0099] Then, the sheet 3 conveyed to the eject path 61 from the
fixing part 15 is conveyed to the eject roller 63 from the eject
path 61, and ejected onto the sheet output tray 62 by the eject
roller 63.
[0100] In addition, in this laser printer 1, the toner remaining on
the surface of the drum main body 40 after transferring onto the
sheet 3 by the roller member 45 is collected by the developing
roller 31, that is, the remaining toner is collected according to a
so-called cleaner-less method. By collecting the remaining toner on
the surface of the drum main body 40 by such a cleaner-less method,
it becomes unnecessary to provide a cleaner unit such as a blade or
waste toner reservoir means, so that the apparatus can be
simplified, downsized, and reduced in cost.
[0101] In the laser printer 1, at the time of transfer, the
transfer bias control program is started, and depending on whether
or not the sheet width of the transfer sheet 3 (that is, the
transfer sheet width W4) is equal to or longer than the length in
the axial direction of the roller member 45 (that is, the transfer
effective width W1), and when the sheet width is equal or longer, a
transfer bias is applied by means of constant current control of
the first control method, and when the sheet width is shorter, a
transfer bias is applied by means of constant voltage control of
the second control method.
[0102] Next, processing of such transfer bias control program is
described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 6.
[0103] In FIG. 6, this processing is started when the CPU 55
accepts a printing job. When the processing is started, first, a
transfer sheet width W4 is selected (S1). The transfer sheet width
W4 is selected by setting a transfer sheet width W4 of the sheet 3
to be used for transferring by detecting the sheet size by a sheet
size detection sensor that is provided inside the paper feed tray 6
and is not shown.
[0104] Next, it is determined whether or not the transfer sheet
width W4 is equal to or longer than the transfer effective width W1
(S2). When the transfer sheet width W4 is equal to or longer than
the transfer effective width W1 (S2: YES), the CPU 55 controls the
bias applying device 54 to apply a transfer bias in constant
current control (S3). On the other hand, when the transfer sheet
width W4 is not equal to or longer than the transfer effective
width W1, that is, when the transfer sheet width W4 is shorter than
the transfer effective width W1 (S1: NO), the CPU 55 controls the
bias applying device 54 to apply a transfer bias in constant
voltage control (S4).
[0105] An example of a transfer bias table to be applied in the
processing described above is shown in Table 1.
1TABLE 1 Sheet size Letter A4 B5 A5 B6 A6 Sheet width 216 210 182
148 128 105 (mm) Control Constant Constant voltage control method
current control -14 .mu.A -3.5 .mu.A
[0106] As shown in Table 1, in this processing, when the transfer
sheet width W4 is equal to or longer than the transfer effective
width W1, that is, for example, when the sheet 3 is in letter size,
constant current control is performed in which a transfer bias is
applied at a constant transfer current of -14 .mu.A. On the other
hand, when the transfer sheet width W4 is shorter than the transfer
effective width W1, constant voltage control is performed in which
a transfer bias is applied at a constant transfer voltage of -3.5
kV.
[0107] Thereafter, when the image forming corresponding to the
accepted printing job is finished (S5), the CPU 55 controls the
bias applying device 54 and the transfer bias is turned OFF (S6),
and by returning, the transfer bias control program is ended.
[0108] In such a control, in the laser printer 1, the transfer
effective width W1 of the roller member 45 of the transfer roller
27 is formed to be shorter than the maximum sheet width W2, so that
when the transfer sheet 3 is a sheet 3 with the maximum sheet width
W2 (with, for example, letter size), the roller member 45 comes
into contact with the entire sheet 3 in the axial direction. On the
other hand, when the transfer sheet 3 is a sheet 3 (with, for
example, A4 size or smaller) the width of which is shorter than the
width of the sheet 3 with the maximum sheet width W2, a region of
the roller member where the roller member 45 does not come into
contact with the sheet 3 in the axial direction, that is, the
region where the drum main body 40 is in direct contact with the
roller member 45 is reduced more than in the case where the
transfer effective width W1 is formed to be longer than the maximum
sheet width W2.
[0109] Therefore, when the transfer sheet width W4 of the sheet 3
to be used for transferring is equal to or longer than the transfer
effective width W1 of the roller member 45, the transfer bias does
not leak, and when the transfer sheet width is shorter than the
transfer effective width W1 of the roller member 45, leak of the
transfer bias can be reduced more than in the case where the
transfer effective width W1 of the roller member 45 is formed
longer than the maximum sheet width W2. Therefore, a toner image
can be transferred with a low transfer current onto the sheet 3
with a narrow sheet width.
[0110] In this control, depending on whether or not the transfer
sheet width W4 of the sheet 3 to be used for transferring is equal
to or longer than the transfer effective width W1 of the roller
member 45, the constant current control or the constant voltage
control is selected and a transfer bias is applied, so that a
proper transfer bias is applied according to the ease of occurrence
of transfer bias leak. Therefore, the drum main body 40 can be
prevented from being damaged by excessive application of a transfer
current while preventing a transfer failure caused by shortage in
application of the transfer current.
[0111] In greater detail, in this control, when the transfer sheet
width W4 of the sheet 3 to be used for transferring is equal to or
longer than the transfer effective width W1 of the roller member
45, a transfer bias is applied by constant current control, and
when it is shorter than the transfer effective width W1, transfer
bias is applied by constant voltage control. Therefore, by simple
control of switching the control method, a necessary and sufficient
transfer current can be applied to the sheet 3 without fail by
constant current control when the transfer sheet width W4 of the
sheet 3 to be used for transferring is equal to or longer than the
transfer effective width W1 of the roller member 45, and when it is
shorter than the transfer effective width, leak of a transfer
current can be compensated by constant voltage control and a
necessary and sufficient transfer current can be applied to the
sheet 3 without fail.
[0112] Furthermore, in the abovementioned control, depending on
whether or not the transfer sheet width W4 of the sheet 3 to be
used for transferring is equal to or longer than the transfer
effective width W1 of the roller member 45, when it is equal to or
longer, a transfer bias is applied by constant current control, and
when it is shorter than the transfer effective width, a transfer
bias is applied by constant voltage control, however, it is also
possible that, for example, when the transfer sheet width is equal
to or longer than the transfer effective width W1, a transfer bias
is applied by constant current control using a constant transfer
current regardless of the transfer sheet width W4 of the sheet 3 as
a first control method, and when the transfer sheet width is
shorter, as a second control method, a transfer bias is applied
with a transfer current higher than that in the constant current
control when the transfer sheet width is equal or longer by
constant current control in which the transfer current is changed
according to the transfer sheet width W4 of the sheet 3.
[0113] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing this transfer bias control
program processing.
[0114] As shown in FIG. 7, this processing is started when the CPU
55 accepts a printing job as in the case described above. When the
processing is started, first, as in the case described above, the
transfer sheet width W4 is selected (S11).
[0115] Next, it is determined whether or not the transfer sheet
width W4 is equal to or longer than the transfer effective width W1
(S12). Then the transfer sheet width W4 is equal to or longer than
the transfer effective width W1 (S12: YES), the CPU 55 controls the
bias applying device 54 to applies a transfer bias by the first
constant current control using a constant transfer current (S13).
On the other hand, when the transfer sheet width W4 is not equal to
or longer than the transfer effective width W1, that is, when the
transfer sheet width W4 is shorter than the transfer effective
width W1 (S12: NO), the CPU 55 controls the bias applying device 54
and apply a transfer bias by the second constant current control
using a transfer current that is higher than that of the first
constant current control and changes according to the transfer
sheet width W4 (S14).
[0116] Table 2 shows an example of a table of transfer biases to be
applied in such processing.
2TABLE 2 Sheet size Letter A4 B5 A5 B6 A6 Sheet width 216 210 182
148 128 105 (mm) Control Constant current control method -14 .mu.A
-16 .mu.A -18 .mu.A -20 .mu.A -24 .mu.A -28 .mu.A
[0117] As shown in Table 2, in this processing, when the transfer
sheet width W4 is equal to or longer than the transfer effective
width W1, that is, for example, when the sheet 3 is in letter size,
regardless of the transfer sheet width W4 of the sheet 3, the first
constant current control is performed in which a transfer bias is
applied with a constant transfer current of -14 .mu.A. On the other
hand, when the transfer sheet width W4 is shorter than the transfer
effective width W1, the second constant voltage control is
performed in which a transfer bias is applied with a transfer
current of, for example, -16 .mu.A when the sheet is in a size A4,
-18 .mu.A when the sheet 3 is a size B5, -20 .mu.A when the sheet
is in a size A5, -24 .mu.A when the sheet is in a size B6, and -28
.mu.A when the sheet is in a size A6, which is a transfer current
higher than the transfer current (-14 .mu.A) of the first current
control corresponding to the transfer sheet width W4 of the sheet
3.
[0118] Thereafter, when image forming corresponding to the accepted
printing job is finished (S15), the CPU 55 controls the bias
applying device 54 to turn the transfer bias off (S16), and by
returning, the transfer bias control program is ended.
[0119] In such a control, when the transfer sheet width W4 of the
sheet 3 to be used for transferring is equal to or longer than the
transfer effective width W1 of the roller member 45, a transfer
bias is applied with a constant transfer current by the first
constant current control. When the transfer sheet width is shorter
than the transfer effective width W1 of the roller member 45, a
transfer bias is applied while the transfer current changes
according to the transfer sheet width W4 of the sheet 3 by the
second constant current control. Therefore, depending on whether or
not the transfer sheet width W4 of the sheet 3 to be used for
transferring is equal to or longer than the transfer effective
width W1 of the roller member 45, furthermore, when it is shorter
than the transfer effective width W1 of the roller member 45, a
transfer bias can be applied with a proper transfer current
corresponding to the transfer sheet width W4 of the sheet 3 to be
used for transferring by the constant current control.
[0120] Furthermore, it is also possible that, by simplifying the
abovementioned control, depending on whether or not the transfer
sheet width W4 of the sheet 3 to be used for transferring is equal
to or longer than the transfer effective width W1 of the roller
member 45, when it is equal to or longer, as the first control
method, regardless of the transfer sheet width W4 of the sheet 3, a
transfer bias is applied by constant current control using a
constant transfer current, and when the transfer sheet width is
shorter, as the second control method, a transfer bias is applied
by constant current control using a constant transfer current
higher than that in the constant current control when the transfer
sheet width is equal to or longer, regardless of the transfer sheet
width W4 of the sheet 3.
[0121] Such processing of the transfer bias control program is
realized by applying a transfer bias by the second constant current
control using a transfer current that is higher than that of the
first constant current control and is constant by controlling the
bias applying device 54 by the CPU 55 in Step S14 in FIG. 7.
[0122] In Table 3, an example of a table of transfer biases to be
applied in this processing is shown.
3TABLE 3 Sheet size Letter A4 B5 A5 B6 A6 Sheet width 216 210 182
148 128 105 (mm) Control Constant current control method -14 .mu.A
-20 .mu.A
[0123] As shown in table 3, in this processing, when the transfer
sheet width W4 is equal to or longer than the transfer effective
width W1, that is, for example, the sheet 3 is in letter size,
regardless of the transfer sheet width W4 of the sheet 3, the first
constant current control is performed in which a transfer bias is
applied with a constant transfer current of -14 .mu.A. On the other
hand, when the transfer sheet width W4 is shorter than the transfer
effective width W1, regardless of the transfer sheet width W4 of
the sheet 3, the second constant current control is performed in
which a transfer bias is applied with a constant transfer current
of -20 .mu.A that is higher than the transfer current (-14 .mu.A)
of the first constant current control.
[0124] In such a control, when the transfer sheet width W4 of the
sheet 3 to be used for transferring is equal to or longer than the
transfer effective width W1 of the roller member 45, a transfer
bias is applied with a transfer current that is always constant by
the first constant current control. On the other hand, when the
transfer sheet width is shorter than the transfer effective width
W1 of the roller member 45, by the second constant current control,
a transfer bias that is always constant and higher than the
transfer current (-14 .mu.A) of the first constant current control
is applied. Therefore, a proper transfer bias can be applied by
simple control in which the transfer current is selectively
switched by constant current control depending on whether or not
the transfer sheet width W4 of the sheet 3 to be used for
transferring is equal to or longer than the transfer effective
width W1 of the roller member 45.
[0125] In addition, in the laser printer 1, the roller member 45 of
the transfer roller 27 is formed to be shorter than the maximum
sheet width W2, whereby the roller member 45 of the transfer roller
27 is sufficiently shorter than the length in the axial direction
of the drum main body 40 in comparison with the conventional case.
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, by disposing the drum main body 40
along the axial direction of the roller member 45 so that both ends
in the axial direction of the roller member 45 are not opposite
both ends in the axial direction of the roller member 45, below the
drum main body 40, the bearing members 50 provided at both ends in
the axial direction of the roller member 45 can be disposed so as
to be opposite each other at both ends in the axial direction of
the drum main body 40 that are not opposite both ends in the axial
direction of the roller member 45. Therefore, the length in the
axial direction of the roller shaft 46 supporting the roller member
45 can be made shorter, whereby the apparatus can be reduced in
size and weight.
[0126] Namely, for example, as shown in FIG. 8, when the drum main
body 40 of the photoconductor drum 24 and the roller member 45 of
the transfer roller 27 are formed so as to have almost the same
length in their axial directions, by providing the bearing members
50 for shaft-bearing the roller shaft 46 of the transfer roller 27
are provided at the outer sides of both ends of the roller member
45, the bearing members 50 are disposed at sides outer than both
ends in the axial direction of the drum main body 40, and the
length in the axial direction of the roller shaft 46 needs to be
lengthened accordingly.
[0127] However, by forming the roller member 45 of the transfer
roller 27 sufficiently shorter than the length in the axial
direction of the drum main body 40 as described above, as shown in
FIG. 3, below the drum main body 40, the bearing members 50 can be
disposed so as to be opposite each other at both ends in the axial
direction of the drum main body 40 that are not opposite both ends
in the axial direction of the roller member 45, and the length in
the axial direction of the roller shaft 46 supporting the roller
member 45 can be shortened, whereby the apparatus can be
downsized.
[0128] In addition, in the transfer roller 27, on the transfer
roller gear part 47 provided on one end in the axial direction of
the roller shaft 46, the transfer roller gear 48 is integrally
provided with a sliding cylinder part 49 to be shaft-borne by the
bearing member 50. Therefore, while the length in the axial
direction of the roller shaft 46 is shortened without fail, the
sliding cylinder part 49 is simply formed integrally with the
transfer roller gear 48, whereby the assembling work can be made
more efficient.
[0129] Namely, as referring to FIG. 8, for example, on one end in
the axial direction of the roller shaft 46 where the transfer
roller gear 48 is provided, between the roller member 45 and the
transfer roller gear 48, a portion to be shaft-borne by the bearing
member 50 becomes necessary, and clearances are created between the
roller member 45 and the bearing portion and between the bearing
portion and the transfer roller gear 48, respectively, and the
length in the axial direction of the roller shaft 46 must be
lengthened to an extent corresponding to the clearances.
[0130] However, as referring to FIG. 3, when the transfer roller
gear 48 is integrally provided with the sliding cylinder part 49
and the sliding cylinder part 49 is shaft-borne by the bearing
member 50, the length in the axial direction of the roller shaft 46
can be shortened without fail. In addition, in the transfer roller
gear part 47, the assembling work can be made more efficient by
simply forming the sliding cylinder part 49 integrally with the
transfer roller gear 48.
[0131] Furthermore, since the sliding cylinder part 49 and the
bearing members 50 are both formed from a resin, smooth sliding is
obtained and durability is improved.
[0132] Furthermore, in the arrangement described above, the length
in the axial direction of the drum main body 40 is sufficiently
longer than the length in the axial direction of the roller member
45, one end in the axial direction where the drum gear 41 is
provided in the drum main body 40 and one end in the axial
direction where the transfer roller gear 48 is provided in the
roller member 45 are disposed so as not to be opposite each other,
whereby the input gear 44 and the transfer roller gear 48 can be
disposed so as to overlap each other in the axial direction of the
roller shaft 46 as shown in FIG. 4. Therefore, the apparatus can be
downsized, and the degree of freedom in arrangement of the gears
including the input gear 44, the drum gear 41, and the transfer
roller gear 48 can be increased.
[0133] Namely, as shown in FIG. 9, for example, when the length in
the axial direction of the drum main body 40 is almost equal to the
length in the axial direction of the roller member 45, the input
gear 44 and the transfer roller gear 48 cannot overlap in the axial
direction of the roller shaft 46, and therefore, the input gear 44
and the transfer roller gear 48 must be disposed not to interfere
with each other, and the degree of freedom in arrangement of gears
is greatly limited.
[0134] However, as shown in FIG. 3, when the length in the axial
direction of the roller member 45 is formed to be sufficiently
shorter than the length in the axial direction of the drum main
body 40, and one end in the axial direction where the drum gear 41
is provided in the drum main body 40 and one end in the axial
direction where the transfer roller gear 48 is provided in the
roller member 45 can be disposed not to be opposite each other,
whereby the input gear 44 and the transfer roller gear 48 can be
disposed so as to overlap each other in the axial direction of the
roller shaft 46 as shown in FIG. 4, and therefore, the degree of
freedom in arrangement of the gears can be increased.
[0135] Particularly, in this arrangement, since the projection
surface of the transfer roller gear 48 formed to be smaller than
the input gear is disposed within the projection surface of the
input gear 44 in the axial direction of the roller shaft 46, the
apparatus can be further downsized.
[0136] Furthermore, even when the projection surface of the
transfer roller gear 48 is not disposed within the projection
surface of the input gear 44 in the axial direction of the roller
shaft 46 and the input gear 44 and the transfer roller gear 48 are
disposed so as to partially overlap in the axial direction of the
roller shaft 46 as shown in FIG. 10, downsizing of the apparatus is
also realized.
[0137] In addition, on the other end of the roller shaft 45 at the
opposite side in the axial direction of the roller shaft 45 of the
one end where the transfer roller gear 47 is provided, the end in
the axial direction of the drum main body 40 is disposed so as not
to be opposite the end in the axial direction of the roller member
41. Therefore, adhesion of the toner dropping off the drum main
body 40 to the other end of the roller shaft 45 where the transfer
roller gear 47 is not provided can be reduced.
[0138] Namely, the toner is carried in a form of a thin film on the
developing roller 31, however, on both ends in the axial direction
of the developing roller 31 with which the pressure contact part 39
of the layer thickness limiting blade 32 is not in pressure
contact, excessive toner that is not made into pressure contact by
the pressure contact part 39 adheres to both ends in the axial
direction of the drum main body 40 from both ends in the axial
direction of the developing roller 31, and drops from both ends in
the axial direction of the drum main body 40.
[0139] Therefore, in this case, by disposing both ends in the axial
direction of the drum main body 40 so as not to be opposite both
ends in the axial direction of the roller member 41, and at the
other end of the roller shaft 45 where the transfer roller gear
part 47 is not provided, by forming the roller shaft 46 projecting
from the other end in the axial direction of the roller member 41
short (see FIG. 12), the toner dropping from the drum main body 40
can be prevented from adhering to the roller shaft 45.
[0140] Furthermore, in the abovementioned process cartridge 14, as
shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, it is also possible that toner
reservoir parts 64 as receiving members for receiving toner
dropping from the drum main body 40 are formed in the lower cover
member 28.
[0141] In FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, as in the case described above, the
roller member 45 of the transfer roller 27 is formed so that its
length in the axial direction is sufficiently shorter than the
length in the axial direction of the drum main body 40 of the
photoconductor drum 24, and above the roller member 45, the drum
main body 40 is disposed along the axial direction of the roller
member 45 so that both ends in the axial direction of the drum main
body 40 are not opposite both ends in the axial direction of the
roller member 45.
[0142] Then, the toner reservoir parts 64 are provided in the lower
plate 51 of the lower cover member 28 at the both outer sides in
the axial direction of the roller member 45 between the drum main
body 40 and the lower plate 51, that is, the toner reservoir parts
are provided below the drum main body 40 so as to be opposite each
other at both ends in the axial direction of the drum main body 40
that are not opposite both ends in the axial direction of the
roller member 45.
[0143] Each toner reservoir part 64 has a roughly rectangular shape
in plan view, and is formed integrally with the lower plate 51 as a
recess caving downward from the lower plate 51.
[0144] In this arrangement, as in the case described above, the
length in the axial direction of the roller member 45 is formed to
be sufficiently shorter than the length in the axial direction of
the drum main body 40, so that the toner reservoir parts 64 can be
disposed opposite each other at both ends in the axial direction of
the drum main body 40 that are not opposite both ends in the axial
direction of the roller member 45. Thereby, even when toner
adhering to both ends in the axial direction of the drum main body
40 from both ends in the axial direction of the developing roller
31 drops, the toner can be directly received by the toner reservoir
parts 64 without passing through both ends in the axial direction
of the roller member 45. Therefore, stain on the roller member 45
can be reduced, and such a toner can be collected into the toner
reservoir parts 64, so that the apparatus can be prevented from
being stained by toner splatter.
[0145] Namely, as shown in FIG. 13, for example, the length in the
axial direction of the drum main body 40 is almost equal to the
length in the axial direction of the roller member 45, the toner
dropping from the drum main body 40 adheres to the roller member
45, and when the toner drops from the roller member 45, the toner
spills from the lower cover member 28 and splatters inside the
apparatus.
[0146] However, as described above, the length in the axial
direction of the roller member 45 is formed to be sufficiently
shorter than the length in the axial direction of the drum main
body 40 and both ends in the axial direction of the roller member
45 are disposed opposite both ends in the axial direction of the
drum main body 40 that are not opposite both ends in the axial
direction of the roller member 45, whereby the toner dropping from
both ends in the axial direction of the drum main body 40 can be
directly received by the toner reservoir parts 64. Therefore, the
stain on the roller member 45 can be reduced, and the toner can be
collected into the toner reservoir parts 64, so that the apparatus
can be prevented from being stained by toner splatter.
[0147] In addition, in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, the roller member 45 is
formed to have a length within the range in which the drum main
body 40 comes into contact with the layer thickness limiting blade
32, and disposed within the range.
[0148] Particularly, the toner reservoir parts 64 are disposed
opposite each other at both ends in the axial direction of the
roller member 45, so that the toner dropping from both ends in the
axial direction of the drum main body 40 can be directly received
by the toner reservoir parts 64. Therefore, the stain on the roller
member 45 can be further reduced, whereby the apparatus can be
prevented from being stained by toner splatter.
[0149] In addition, the toner reservoir parts 64 are provided
integrally with the lower plate 51 of the lower cover member 28, so
that the toner reservoir parts 64 can be easily formed in the
arrangement enabling them to receive the toner without fail.
[0150] Furthermore, in the description given above, the transfer
roller 27 and the lower cover member 28 are provided on the drum
cartridge 22 and are made detachable from the main body casing 2
integrally with the process cartridge 14, however, it is also
possible that the transfer roller 27 and the lower cover member 28
can be provided on, for example, the main body casing 2. In this
case, the bearing members 50 and the toner reservoir parts 64 are
also provided on the main body casing 2.
[0151] Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the invention is
described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 14 is an explanatory
view showing the schematic sectional configuration of a laser
printer 101 as an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to
which the invention is applied. FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing
the electrical configuration of the laser printer 101.
[0152] The laser printer 101 shown in FIG. 14 has a feeder unit 110
for feeding a paper as a sheet at the bottom of the main body case
102. The feeder unit 110 includes a sheet pressing plate 111, a
compression spring 112, and a sheet feed roller 113, and sheets P
placed on the sheet pressing plate 111 are pressed against the
sheet feed roller 113 by the pressing force of the compression
spring 112, the top paper is separated by the rotation of the sheet
feed roller 113 and supplied to the side of the resist rollers 114
and 115.
[0153] At the further downstream side in the sheet conveyance
direction shown by the arrow A than the sheet feed roller 113, a
pair of resist rollers 114 and 115 are pivotally supported in a
rotatable manner to convey the paper to a transfer position formed
by the photoconductor drum 120 and the transfer roller 160 in a
predetermined timing.
[0154] The photoconductor drum 120 as an image carrier has an
organic photoconductor mainly composed of a positively charged
material, for example, positively charged polycarbonate. The
photoconductor drum 120 is composed of a hollow drum which is
formed of an aluminum-made cylindrical sleeve as its main body and
has a photoconductive layer with a predetermined thickness made on
its outer circumference by dispersing a photoconductive resin in
polycarbonate, and is pivotally supported by the main body case 102
in a rotatable manner while the cylindrical sleeve is grounded. The
photoconductor drum 20 rotates in the direction of the arrow B by
receiving a driving force from a driving source such as a motor via
a gear.
[0155] Furthermore, around the photoconductor drum 120, a charger
130 for evenly charging the surface of the photoconductor drum 120,
a scanner unit 140 for irradiating the photoconductor drum 120
charged by the charger 130 with a laser beam L for forming an
electrostatic latent image, a development unit 150 which develops
the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor drum
120 by the scanner unit 140 to form a toner image as a developer
image on the photoconductor drum 120, a transfer roller 160 which
transfers the toner image formed on the photoconductor drum 120
onto the paper, and a cleaning device 180 which has a cleaning
brush 181 for removing paper powder adhering to the photoconductor
drum 120 when transferring from the photoconductor drum 120.
[0156] The charger 130 as a charging unit is formed of a scorotron
type corona charger for positive charging including a discharging
wire 135 and a grid electrode (wire) 137, and is disposed opposite
the photoconductor drum 120 while leaving a predetermined
clearance. FIG. 16A is an explanatory view showing the
configuration of a vertical section to the rotation axis of the
photoconductor drum 120 in this charger 130, and FIG. 16B is a plan
view of the charger 130 along the rotation axis of the
photoconductor drum 120.
[0157] The charger 130 has a discharging wire 135 inside a frame
body 131 having an opening 131a disposed opposite the
photoconductor drum 120, and in the opening 131a, a grid electrode
137 is laid. The charger 130 discharges corona ions from the
discharging wire 135 by receiving a supply of electrical power from
the charger power source 219. The corona ions discharged from the
discharging wire 135 pass through the opening 131a and reach the
photoconductor drum 120 to charge the surface of the photoconductor
drum 120. At this point, the grid electrode 137 controls the
charged state of the photoconductor drum 120 charged by the corona
ions discharged from the discharging wire 135.
[0158] The charging target region RA on the photoconductor drum 120
which the charger 130 can charge matches the surface of the
photoconductor drum 120 opposite the opening 131a, and the width D1
in the rotation axis direction of the photoconductor drum 120 of
the charging target region RA matches the width D0 in the rotation
axis direction of the photoconductor drum 120 in the opening
131a.
[0159] On the other hand, the scanner unit 140 as an exposure unit
includes a laser generator (not shown) that generates a laser beam
L for forming an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor
drum 120, a polygon mirror 141 to be driven to rotate, lenses 142
and 143, and reflecting mirrors 144 and 145, etc., and exposes the
surface of the photoconductor drum 120 at an exposure position on
the further downstream side in the rotation direction of the
photoconductor drum 120 than the charger 130 by irradiating the
surface of the photoconductor drum 120 with a laser beam L to form
an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoconductor
drum 120.
[0160] The development unit 150 has a developing roller 157 as a
developing unit that is in contact with the photoconductor drum 120
at the further downstream side in the rotation direction of the
photoconductor drum 120 than the exposure position. The developing
roller 157 develops an electrostatic latent image formed on the
photoconductor drum 120 by the scanner unit 140 by using a
positively charged toner carried on the surface of the developing
roller to form a toner image on the photoconductor drum 120.
[0161] The development unit 150 is configured so that a toner
housing chamber 152 is formed inside the main body 151, and has an
agitator 153 and a positively charged toner 154 (in detail, a
polymer toner) inside the toner housing chamber 152. Adjacent to
the toner housing chamber 152, a developing chamber 155 is
provided, and to this developing chamber 155, a supply roller 156
and the developing roller 157 are pivotally supported in a
rotatable manner.
[0162] The supply roller 156 is formed by covering a roller made of
a conductive foaming material on a metallic shaft member, and the
developing roller 157 is formed by coating a coating layer made of
urethane rubber or silicone rubber containing fluorine on the
surface of a roller main body made of conductive urethane rubber or
silicone rubber containing carbon fine particles. These supply
roller 156 and developing roller 157 are made pressure-contact with
each other.
[0163] The toner 154 inside the toner housing chamber 152 is
agitated by the rotation of the agitator 153 and supplied to the
inside of the developing chamber 155, and positively frictionally
charged between the supply roller 156 and the developing roller 157
and carried by the developing roller 157.
[0164] The toner 154 carried by the developing roller 157 is
limited to a predetermined layer thickness by the layer thickness
limiting blade 158, and supplied for development. The layer
thickness limiting blade 158 is formed by providing a contact part
made of a rubber material such as silicone rubber on the end of a
leaf spring made of a plate of stainless steel, etc., and the
contact part is pressed against the developing roller 157 by an
elastic force of the leaf spring.
[0165] To the developing roller 157, a developing bias necessary
for visualization of the electrostatic latent image is supplied
from a developing bias supply part 211. According to supply of a
developing bias, between the developing roller 157 and the
photoconductor drum 120, an electrical field is formed in the
direction of moving the toner 154 carried by the developing roller
157 to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor
drum 120, and the toner 154 adhering to the developing roller 157
is used for development.
[0166] On the developing roller 157, the central region (width D2
in the axis direction) of the roller main body part 157a (see FIG.
18) is formed as an effective developing region in which the toner
154 can be applied to the photoconductor drum 120 (in other words,
a region with the toner 154 adhering on the developing roller 157).
Namely, in the laser printer 101, only the electrostatic latent
image formed in the developing region RB (width D2 in the rotation
axis direction of the photoconductor drum 120) on the
photoconductor drum 120 opposite the effective developing region of
the developing roller 157 is developed by the toner supplied from
the developing roller 157.
[0167] Furthermore, the transfer roller 160 as a transfer unit is
formed by covering a foaming elastic body (polyurethane, etc.) 160a
that has ion conductivity and has a circular shape in section
around a shaft member (see FIG. 18), and is pivotally supported in
a rotatable manner at the further downstream side in the rotation
direction of the photoconductor drum 120 than the position of
contact between the developing roller 157 and the photoconductor
drum 120 while the surface of the foaming elastic body 160a is in
contact with the surface of the photoconductor drum 120. In
addition, the transfer roller 160 rotates by following the
photoconductor drum 120 upon receiving a driving force (frictional
force) from the photoconductor drum 120 via the surface in contact
with the photoconductor drum 120.
[0168] In addition, the transfer roller 160 draws the paper
conveyed from the resist rollers 114 and 115 between the
photoconductor drum 120 and the transfer roller 160 and makes the
sheet to pass toward the fixing unit 170 side. When the paper
passes between the transfer roller 160 and the photoconductor drum
120, a transfer bias necessary for transfer is supplied from the
transfer bias supply part 213 to the transfer roller 160.
[0169] When a transfer bias is supplied to the transfer roller 160,
the surface potential of the transfer roller 160 becomes lower than
the surface potential of the photoconductor drum 120 immediately
before the photoconductor drum comes into contact with the transfer
roller 160, and the toner that separates from the photoconductor
drum 120 adheres to the paper passing between the photoconductor
drum 120 and the transfer roller 160. According to this method, the
toner image is transferred. To the photoconductor drum 120,
negatively polarized paper powder existing on the paper
adheres.
[0170] In the transfer roller 160, the entire side surface region
of the foaming elastic body 160a (width D3 in the axis direction)
is formed as an effective transfer region (region in which the
toner image can be transferred onto a sheet). Namely, in the laser
printer 101, the toner image existing on the surface (transfer
region RC: width D3) of the photoconductor drum 120 opposite the
foaming elastic body 160a of the transfer roller 160 is transferred
onto the sheet by the transfer roller 160 while passing between the
transfer region RC and the transfer roller 160.
[0171] At the further downstream side in the paper conveyance
direction (shown by the arrow A in FIG. 14) than the transfer
position (the contact position between the photoconductor drum 120
and the transfer roller 160), a fixing unit 170 for fixing a toner
image on the paper, a pair of conveyance roller 173 and paper eject
roller 174 for sheet conveyance, and a paper output tray 175 are
provided. The fixing unit 170 has a heating roller 171 and a
pressing roller 172, and heat-fixes a toner image transferred onto
the paper by pressing the sheet between the rollers 171 and 172
while heating by the heating roller 171. The conveyance roller 73
and the paper eject roller 174 are provided at the downstream side
of the fixing unit 170 in the conveyance direction of the paper,
and the paper output tray 175 is provided at the downstream side of
the paper eject roller 174.
[0172] A cleaning device 180 as a paper powder removal unit has the
abovementioned conductive cleaning brush 181 formed by
conductivity-processing fibers such as nylon, acryl, rayon, etc.,
and selectively removes paper powder on the photoconductor drum 120
negatively charged when transferring from the photoconductor drum
120 by using the cleaning brush 181. The cleaning brush 181 is
disposed opposite and in contact with the photoconductor drum 120
at the side further downstream in the rotation direction of the
photoconductor drum 120 than the transfer roller 160 (that is, the
transfer position) and further upstream in the rotation direction
of the photoconductor drum 120 than the charger 130. FIG. 17 is an
explanatory view schematically showing the contact state between
the cleaning brush 181 and the photoconductor drum 120.
[0173] To the cleaning brush 181, a predetermined voltage is
applied by a brush voltage supply part 217 so that the potential of
the brush is maintained higher than the surface potential of the
photoconductor drum 120. Thereby, between the cleaning brush 181
and the surface of the photoconductor drum 120, an electrical field
is formed in the direction of adsorbing negatively charged foreign
objects to the cleaning brush 181. Therefore, when a voltage is
applied to the cleaning brush 181 by the brush voltage supply part
217, to the cleaning brush 181, the positively charged remaining
toner is not adsorbed but only negatively charged paper powder
adhering to the photoconductor drum 120 is selectively
adsorbed.
[0174] The paper powder removal region RD on the photoconductor
drum 120 from which the cleaning device 180 can remove paper powder
matches the surface of the photoconductor drum 120 which comes into
contact with the cleaning brush 181. Namely, in the laser printer
101, paper powder existing in the paper powder removal region RD on
the photoconductor drum 120 (width D4 in the rotation axis
direction of the photoconductor drum 120) in contact with the
cleaning brush 181 is collected by the cleaning brush 181.
[0175] The cleaning brush 181 adsorbs the paper powder as described
above, and also, disperses the positively charged toner remaining
on the photoconductor drum 120 after transferring on the
photoconductor drum 120 so as to make it easy to collect the
remaining toner by the development unit 150. The laser printer 101
is formed as a so-called cleaner-less laser printer, and the toner
remaining on the photoconductor drum 120 after transferring by the
transfer roller 160 is not collected by the cleaning unit 180, but
is collected by using a developing roller 157 of the development
unit 150 according to a method generally known.
[0176] The widths of the abovementioned charging target region RA,
the developing region RB, the transfer region RC, and the paper
powder removal region RD are set as shown in FIG. 18. FIG. 18 is an
explanatory view showing the relationship in length of the
abovementioned charging target region RA, the developing region RB,
the transfer region RC, and the paper powder removal region RD.
[0177] As shown in FIG. 18, in the laser printer 101 of the second
embodiment, the width D1 of the charging target region RA in the
rotation axis direction of the photoconductor drum 120, the width
D2 of the developing region RB in the rotation axis direction of
the photoconductor drum 120, the width D3 of the transfer region RC
in the rotation axis direction of the photoconductor drum 120, and
the width D4 of the paper powder removal region RD in the rotation
axis direction of the photoconductor drum 120 are set so as to
satisfy the following relationship (inequality)
D4>D1>D3>D2
[0178] In the laser printer 101, the paper powder removal region RD
is set wider than the charging target region RA, the developing
region RB, and the transfer region RC in the rotation axis
direction of the photoconductor drum 120. In addition, the charging
target region RA is set wider than the developing region RB and the
transfer region RC in the rotation axis direction of the
photoconductor drum 120. The transfer region RC is set wider than
the developing region RB.
[0179] The laser printer 101 of the second embodiment has been
described above, and according to the laser printer 101, the paper
powder removal region RD (in other words, the length of the contact
portion between the cleaning brush 181 and the photoconductor drum
120 in the rotation axis direction of the photoconductor drum 120)
is set wider than the charging target region RA in the rotation
axis direction of the photoconductor drum 120, so that paper powder
can be completely removed from the surface of the photoconductor
drum 120 corresponding to the charging target region RA by the
cleaning brush 181, and it can be sufficiently prevented that the
charger 130 deteriorates in performance and charging of the
photoconductor drum 120 becomes incomplete due to abnormal
discharge caused by adhesion of foreign objects X (paper powder) to
the electrodes (grid electrode 137, discharging wire 135, etc.) of
the charger 130 as shown in FIG. 16A.
[0180] Furthermore, when the cleaning unit 180 having the cleaning
brush 181 as in this embodiment is used, the positively charged
toner remaining after transferring can be effectively dispersed on
the photoconductor drum 120 as well as removal of paper powder, and
the collect rate of the toner by the development unit 150 can be
increased. However, when such a cleaning brush 181 is used, paper
powder accumulates on the cleaning brush 181 during a long period
of use, and there is a possibility that a part of the paper powder
splatters from both ends of the cleaning brush 181.
[0181] According to the second embodiment, the length of the
cleaning brush 181 in the rotation axis direction of the
photoconductor drum 120 is set wider than the charging object
region RA (in other words, the opening 131a of the charger 130), so
that it can be effectively prevented that a part of paper powder
splattering from both ends of the cleaning brush 181 adheres to the
discharging wire 135 through the opening 131a and causes abnormal
discharge, etc.
[0182] Furthermore, even when the paper powder enters from the
outside of the paper powder removal region RD, the paper powder
removal region RD is set wider than the charging target region RA,
so that the entering paper powder can be sufficiently prevented
from harmfully influencing the charger 130.
[0183] In addition, according to the second embodiment, since the
paper powder removal region RD is set wider than the developing
region RB in which the toner is likely to remain after
transferring, almost all the toner remaining on the photoconductor
drum 120 can be dispersed by the cleaning brush 181, and the toner
collect rate by the developing roller 157 is improved.
[0184] Furthermore, according to the second embodiment, since the
paper powder removal region RD is set wider than the transfer
region RC to which paper powder is likely to adhere when
transferring (in other words, the length of the contact surface
between the transfer roller 160 and the photoconductor drum 120 in
the rotation axis direction of the photoconductor drum 120), the
paper powder adhering to the photoconductor drum 120 can be
effectively removed by the cleaning device 180, and the problem of
abnormal discharge caused by paper powder can be satisfactorily
solved.
[0185] Moreover, although discharge may occur when transferring if
the transfer region RC is wider than the charging target region RA,
however, according to the laser printer 101 of the second
embodiment, the charging target region RA is set wider than the
transfer region RC, so that such a problem is solved. In addition,
since the transfer region RC is set wider than the developing
region RB, the toner image formed on the photoconductor drum 120
can be excellently transferred onto the paper.
[0186] According to a first aspect of the invention, an image
forming apparatus includes: a transfer member that transfers a
developer image onto a transfer medium to form an image on the
transfer medium; a bias applying unit that applies a transfer bias
to the transfer member; and a bias control unit that controls the
transfer bias to be applied to the transfer member by the bias
applying unit, wherein a longitudinal length of the transfer member
is formed to be shorter than a width of the transfer medium having
a maximum width on which the image is to be formed with the image
forming apparatus.
[0187] In the image forming apparatus according to the first
aspect, the transfer bias control unit may control the bias
applying unit so that a transfer bias is applied according to a
control method differing depending on whether or not the width of
the transfer medium to be used for transferring is equal to or
longer than the longitudinal length of the transfer member.
[0188] According to the above configuration, the longitudinal
length of the transfer member is formed to be shorter than the
width of the transfer medium with a maximum width on which an image
can be formed with this image forming apparatus, so that when the
transfer medium to be used for transferring is a transfer medium
with a maximum width, the transfer member comes into contact with
the entirety in the longitudinal direction of the transfer medium.
Furthermore, when the transfer medium to be used for transferring
is a transfer medium with a width narrower than that of the
transfer medium with the maximum width, in the longitudinal
direction of the transfer member, the region that does not come
into contact with the transfer medium is reduced to be smaller than
in the case where the longitudinal length of the transfer member is
formed to be longer than the width of the transfer medium with the
maximum width. Therefore, when the width of the transfer medium to
be used for transferring is equal to or longer than the
longitudinal length of the transfer member, a transfer bias hardly
leaks, and when it is shorter than the longitudinal length of the
transfer member, the transfer bias leak can be reduced more than in
the case where the longitudinal length of the transfer member is
formed to be longer than the width of the transfer medium with the
maximum width. As a result, even onto the transfer medium with a
narrow width, a developer image can be transferred with a transfer
current lower than in the conventional case. In this configuration,
a transfer bias is applied by a control method that changes
depending on whether or not the width of the transfer medium to be
used for transferring is equal to or longer than the longitudinal
length of the transfer member, so that only by simple control of
switching the control method, a proper transfer bias is applied
according to the ease of occurrence of transfer bias leak.
Therefore, the apparatus damage caused by excessive application of
a transfer current can be reduced while reducing a transfer failure
caused by shortage in application of a transfer current.
[0189] The bias applying unit may be designed to selectively
execute either one of constant current control and constant voltage
control.
[0190] According to this configuration, since the bias applying
unit can perform constant current control and constant voltage
control, a proper transfer bias can be applied by selecting the
constant current control or the constant voltage control depending
on whether or not the width of the transfer medium to be used for
transferring is equal to or longer than the longitudinal length of
the transfer member by controlling the bias applying unit by the
transfer bias control unit.
[0191] The transfer bias control unit may be configured to control
the bias applying unit with a first control method when the width
of the transfer medium to be used is equal to or longer than the
longitudinal length of the transfer member, and to control the bias
applying unit with a second control method when the width of the
transfer medium to be used is shorter than the longitudinal length
of the transfer member.
[0192] The first control method may be constant current control and
the second control method may be constant voltage control.
[0193] According to this configuration, when the width of the
transfer medium to be used for transferring is equal to or longer
than the longitudinal length of the transfer member, a transfer
bias is applied by constant current control, and when the width is
shorter than the longitudinal length of the transfer member, a
transfer bias is applied by constant voltage control. Therefore,
when the width of the transfer medium to be used for transferring
is equal to or longer than the longitudinal length of the transfer
member, a necessary and sufficient transfer current can be applied
by constant current control without fail, and when the width is
shorter than the longitudinal length of the transfer member, leak
of the transfer current can be compensated by constant voltage
control, and a necessary and sufficient transfer current can be
applied to the transfer medium without fail.
[0194] The first control method may be constant current control,
and the second control method may be constant current control for
controlling at a current value higher than that of the constant
current control performed in the first control method.
[0195] According to this configuration, when the width of the
transfer medium to be used for transferring is equal to or longer
than the longitudinal length of the transfer member, a transfer
bias is applied by constant current control, and when the width is
shorter than the longitudinal length of the transfer member, a
transfer bias is applied by constant current control in which
control is performed with a current value higher than in the
constant current control performed when the width of the transfer
medium to be used for transferring is equal to or longer than the
longitudinal length of the transfer member. Therefore, by simple
control of changing the current value by constant current control
depending on whether or not the width of the transfer medium to be
used for transferring is equal to or longer than the longitudinal
length of the transfer member, a proper transfer bias can be
applied.
[0196] The first control method may be constant current control for
controlling constantly at a constant value regardless of the width
of the transfer medium, and the second control method may be
constant current control in which a current value is changed
according to the width of the transfer medium.
[0197] According to this configuration, when the width of the
transfer medium to be used for transferring is equal to or longer
than the longitudinal length of the transfer member, a transfer
bias is applied with a constant current value by constant current
control, and when the width is shorter than the longitudinal length
of the transfer member, a transfer bias is applied while changing
the current value according to the width of the transfer medium by
constant current control. Therefore, depending on whether or not
the width of the transfer medium to be used for transferring is
equal to or longer than the longitudinal length of the transfer
member, furthermore, when it is shorter than the longitudinal
length of the transfer member, a transfer bias can be applied with
a proper current value by constant current control according to the
width of the transfer medium to be used for transferring.
[0198] The image forming apparatus according to the first aspect
may further include: a developer carrier that carries a developer;
an image carrier that is disposed opposite the developer carrier
and carries an image of the developer; and a receiving member that
receives from the developer carrier a developer adhering to both
ends of the image carrier in a longitudinal direction of the image
carrier, wherein the image carrier has a longitudinal length longer
than that of the transfer member, and is disposed along the
longitudinal direction of the transfer member above the transfer
member so that at least either one of the longitudinal ends thereof
is opposite the longitudinal end of the transfer member, and
wherein the receiving member is disposed below the image carrier so
as to be opposite each other at the longitudinal ends of the image
carrier that are not opposite the longitudinal ends of the transfer
member.
[0199] According to this configuration, since receiving members are
disposed below the image carrier so as to be opposite each other at
longitudinal ends of the image carrier that are not opposite the
longitudinal ends of the transfer member, a developer adhering to
the longitudinal ends of the image carrier from the developer
carrier can be received by the receiving members without passing
through the transfer member. Therefore, stain on the transfer
member can be reduced, and such a developer can be collected into
the receiving member, so that the apparatus can be prevented from
being stained by developer splatter.
[0200] The image carrier may be disposed so that the both ends of
the image carrier in the longitudinal direction are not opposite
the both ends of the transfer member in the longitudinal direction,
and wherein at least two of the receiving member are disposed
respectively at positions opposite to both ends of the image
carrier in the longitudinal direction of the image carrier.
[0201] According to this configuration, since the receiving members
are disposed opposite each other at both longitudinal ends of the
image carrier, a developer adhering to both longitudinal ends of
the image carrier from the developer carrier can be received by the
receiving members. Therefore, the stain on the transfer member can
be further reduced, and the apparatus can be prevented more from
being stained by developer splatter.
[0202] The image forming apparatus according to the first aspect
may further include a cover member that covers the transfer member,
wherein the receiving member is integrally provided on the cover
member.
[0203] According to this configuration, since the receiving members
are integrally provided on the cover member covering the transfer
member, the receiving members can be easily formed in arrangement
enabling them to receive the developer without fail.
[0204] The image forming apparatus according to the first aspect
may further include: an image carrier on which a developer image is
carried; a shaft member that supports the transfer member; and a
bearing member that rotatably supports the shaft member, wherein a
longitudinal length of the image carrier is formed to be longer
than the longitudinal length of the transfer member, wherein the
image carrier is disposed above the transfer member along the
longitudinal direction of the transfer member so that at least
either one of the longitudinal ends thereof is not opposite the
longitudinal end of the transfer member, and wherein the bearing
member is disposed below the image carrier so as to be opposite the
longitudinal end of the image carrier that are not opposite the
longitudinal ends of the transfer member.
[0205] According to this configuration, since the bearing members
are disposed below the image carrier so as to be opposite each
other at the longitudinal ends of the image carrier that are not
opposite the longitudinal ends of the transfer member, the length
in the axial direction of the shaft member supporting the transfer
member can be shortened. Therefore, the apparatus can be downsized
and lightened in weight.
[0206] The image forming apparatus according to the first aspect
may further include: a first driving member that is provided on one
end of the shaft member so as not to rotate relatively to the shaft
member and drives the transfer member, wherein the first driving
member is integrally provided with a sliding member to be slidably
borne by the bearing member.
[0207] According to this configuration, since the first driving
member for driving the transfer member is integrally provided with
the sliding member, while the length in the axial direction of the
shaft member can be shortened, the sliding member is easily formed
integrally with the first driving member, whereby the assembling
work can be made more efficient.
[0208] The sliding member and the bearing members may be made of a
resin.
[0209] According to this configuration, the sliding member and
bearing members are both made of a resin, so that smooth sliding is
obtained and durability can be improved.
[0210] The image forming apparatus according to the first aspect
may further include: an image carrier on which a developer image is
carried; a second driving member that is provided at the
longitudinal end of the image carrier and drives the image carrier;
a shaft member that supports the transfer member; a first driving
member that is provided on one end of the shaft member so as not to
rotate relatively to the shaft member and drives the transfer
member; and a power input member that inputs power into the second
driving member, wherein a longitudinal length of the image carrier
is formed to be longer than the longitudinal length of the transfer
member, wherein the image carrier is disposed above the transfer
member along the longitudinal direction of the transfer member so
that the longitudinal end where the second driving member is
provided is not opposite the longitudinal end of the transfer
member where the first driving member is provided, and wherein the
power input member and the first driving member are disposed so as
to overlap each other in the longitudinal direction of the transfer
member.
[0211] According to this configuration, the longitudinal end of the
image carrier where the second driving member is provided and the
longitudinal end of the transfer member where the first driving
member is provided are disposed so as not to be opposite each
other, and the power input member and the first driving member are
disposed so as to overlap in the longitudinal direction of the
transfer member. Therefore, the apparatus can be downsized, and the
degree of freedom in arrangement of the members can be
increased.
[0212] The first driving member may be formed to be smaller than
the power input member, and the power input member and the first
driving member may be disposed so that a projection surface of the
first driving member is disposed within a projection surface of the
power input member in the longitudinal direction of the transfer
member.
[0213] According to this configuration, the projection surface of
the second driving member which is formed to be smaller than the
power input member is disposed within the projection surface of the
power input member in the longitudinal direction of the transfer
member, so that the apparatus can be further downsized.
[0214] The image forming apparatus according to the first aspect
may further include: an image carrier on which the developer image
is carried; a shaft member that supports the transfer member; and a
first driving member that is provided on one end of the shaft
member so as not to rotate relatively to the shaft member and
drives the transfer member, wherein a longitudinal length of the
image carrier is formed to be longer than the longitudinal length
of the transfer member, and wherein the image carrier is disposed
above the transfer member along the longitudinal direction of the
transfer member at the other end of the shaft member opposite one
end of the shaft member where the first driving member is provided
so that the longitudinal end of the image carrier is not opposite
the longitudinal end of the transfer member.
[0215] According to this configuration, the image carrier is formed
so that the longitudinal length of the image carrier is longer than
the longitudinal length of the transfer member, and is disposed so
that, on the other end of the shaft member opposite one end of the
shaft member where the first driving member is provided, the
longitudinal end of the image carrier is not opposite the
longitudinal end of the transfer member. Therefore, the phenomenon
in that the toner dropping from the image carrier adheres to the
other end of the shaft member where the first driving member is not
provided can be reduced.
[0216] According to a second aspect of the invention, the process
cartridge includes: a developer carrier that carries a developer;
an image carrier that is disposed opposite the developer carrier
and carries a developer image; a transfer member that transfers the
developer image onto a transfer medium, and is detachably attached
to an image forming apparatus; and a receiving member that receives
the developer adhering to both longitudinal ends of the image
carrier from the developer carrier, wherein a longitudinal length
of the image carrier is formed to be longer than the longitudinal
length of the transfer member, wherein the image carrier is
disposed above the transfer member along the longitudinal direction
of the transfer member so that at least either one of the
longitudinal ends is not opposite the longitudinal ends of the
transfer member, wherein the receiving member is disposed below the
image carrier so as to be opposite each other at the longitudinal
ends of the image carrier that are not opposite the longitudinal
ends of the transfer member.
[0217] According to this configuration, the receiving members are
disposed below the image carrier so as to be opposite each other at
the longitudinal ends of the image carrier that are not opposite
the longitudinal ends of the transfer member, so that the developer
adhering to the longitudinal ends of the image carrier from the
developer carrier can be received by the receiving members without
passing through the transfer member. Therefore, the stain on the
transfer member can be reduced, and in addition, since such
developer can be collected into the receiving members, the
apparatus can be prevented from being stained by developer
splatter.
[0218] According to a third aspect of the invention, the image
forming apparatus includes: a developer carrier that carries a
developer; an image carrier that is disposed opposite the developer
carrier and carries the developer image; a transfer member that
transfers a developer image onto a transfer medium;
[0219] and a receiving member that receives a developer adhering to
both longitudinal ends of the image carrier, wherein a longitudinal
length of the image carrier is formed to be longer than the
longitudinal length of the transfer member, wherein the image
carrier is disposed above the transfer member along the
longitudinal direction of the transfer member so that at least
either one of the longitudinal ends thereof is not opposite the
longitudinal ends of the transfer member, and wherein the receiving
member is disposed below the image carrier so as to be opposite the
transfer member and at the longitudinal end of the image carrier
that are not opposite-the longitudinal ends of the transfer
member.
[0220] According to this configuration, since the receiving members
are disposed below the image carrier so as to be opposite each
other at the longitudinal ends of the image carrier that are not
opposite the longitudinal ends of the transfer member, the
developer adhering to the longitudinal ends of the image carrier
from the developer carrier can be received by the receiving members
without passing through the transfer member. Therefore, the stain
on the transfer member can be reduced, and in addition, since such
a developer can be collected into the receiving members, the
apparatus can be prevented from being stained by developer
splatter.
[0221] According to a fourth aspect of the invention, the process
cartridge includes: an image carrier that carries a developer
image; a transfer member that transfers a developer image onto a
transfer medium; a shaft member that supports the transfer member;
and a bearing member that rotatably supports the shaft member and
is detachably attached to an image forming apparatus, wherein a
longitudinal length of the image carrier is formed to be longer
than the longitudinal length of the transfer member, wherein the
image carrier is disposed above the transfer member along the
longitudinal direction of the transfer member so that at least
either one of the longitudinal ends is not opposite the
longitudinal ends of the transfer member, and wherein the bearing
member is disposed below the image carrier so as to be opposite the
image carrier at the longitudinal ends of the image carrier that
are not opposite the longitudinal ends of the transfer member.
[0222] According to this configuration, since the bearing members
are disposed below the image carrier so as to be opposite each
other at the longitudinal ends of the image carrier that are not
opposite the longitudinal ends of the transfer member, the length
in the axial direction of the shaft member supporting the transfer
member can be shortened. Therefore, the apparatus can be
downsized.
[0223] According to a fifth aspect of the invention, the image
forming apparatus includes: an image carrier on which a developer
image is carried; a transfer member that transfers a developer
image onto a transfer medium; a shaft member that supports the
transfer member; and a bearing member that rotatably supports the
shaft member, wherein a longitudinal length of the image carrier is
formed to be longer than the longitudinal length of the transfer
member, wherein the image carrier is disposed above the transfer
member along the longitudinal direction of the transfer member so
that at least either one of the longitudinal ends is not opposite
the longitudinal end of the transfer member, and wherein the
bearing member is disposed below the image carrier so as to be
opposite the image carrier at the longitudinal ends of the image
carrier that are not opposite the longitudinal ends of the transfer
member.
[0224] According to this configuration, since the bearing members
are disposed below the image carrier so as to be opposite each
other at the longitudinal ends of the image carrier that are not
opposite the longitudinal ends of the transfer member, the length
in the axial direction of the shaft member supporting the transfer
member can be shortened. Therefore, the apparatus can be
downsized.
[0225] According to a sixth aspect of the invention, the process
cartridge includes: an image carrier that carries a developer
image; a second driving member that is provided at the longitudinal
end of the image carrier and drives the image carrier; a transfer
member that transfers a developer image onto a transfer medium; a
shaft member that supports the transfer member; a first driving
member that is provided at one end of the shaft member so as not to
rotate relatively to the shaft member and drives the transfer
member; and a power input member that inputs power into the second
driving member, and is detachably attached to an image forming
apparatus, wherein a longitudinal length of the image carrier is
formed to be longer than the longitudinal length of the transfer
member, wherein the image carrier is disposed above the transfer
member along the longitudinal direction of the transfer member so
that the longitudinal end where the second driving member is
provided is not opposite the longitudinal end of the transfer
member where the first driving member is provided, and wherein the
power input member and the first driving member are disposed so as
to overlap in the longitudinal direction of the transfer
member.
[0226] According to this configuration, the longitudinal end of the
image carrier where the second driving member is provided and the
longitudinal end of the transfer member where the first driving
member is provided are disposed so as not to be opposite each
other, and the power input member and the first driving member are
disposed so as to overlap in the longitudinal direction of the
transfer member. Therefore, the apparatus can be downsized, and the
degree of freedom in arrangement of the members can be
increased.
[0227] According to a seventh aspect of the invention, the image
forming apparatus includes: an image carrier that carries a
developer image; a second driving member that is provided on the
longitudinal end of the image carrier and drives the image carrier;
a transfer member that transfers the developer image onto a
transfer medium; a shaft member that supports the transfer member;
a first driving member that is provided on one end of the shaft
member so as not to rotate relatively to the shaft member and
drives the transfer member; and a power input member that inputs
power into the second driving member, wherein a longitudinal length
of the image carrier is formed to be longer than the longitudinal
length of the transfer member, wherein the image carrier is
disposed above the transfer member along the longitudinal direction
of the transfer member so that the longitudinal end where the
second driving member is provided is not opposite the longitudinal
end of the transfer member where the first driving member is
provided, and wherein the power input member and the first driving
member are disposed so as to overlap in the longitudinal direction
of the transfer member.
[0228] According to this configuration, the longitudinal end of the
image carrier where the second driving member is provided and the
longitudinal end of the transfer member where the first driving
member is provided are disposed so as not to be opposite each
other, and the power input member and the first driving member are
disposed so as to overlap each other in the longitudinal direction
of the transfer member. Therefore, the apparatus can be downsized,
and the degree of freedom in arrangement of the members can be
increased.
[0229] According to an eighth aspect of the invention, the image
forming apparatus includes: an image carrier that is rotatably
provided; a charging unit that is disposed opposite the image
carrier, and charges a charging target region on a surface of the
image carrier; an exposure unit that exposes the image carrier at
an exposure position positioned at a downstream side in the
rotation direction of the image carrier than the charging unit to
form an electrostatic latent image on the image carrier; a
developing unit that is disposed opposite the image carrier at the
downstream side in the rotation direction of the image carrier than
the exposure position, and develops an electrostatic latent image
that is formed on the image carrier by the exposure unit by
applying a developer with charge to form a developer image on the
image carrier; a transfer unit that is disposed opposite the image
carrier at the downstream side in the rotation direction of the
image carrier than the developing unit, and transfers the developer
image formed on the image carrier onto a transfer medium; and a
paper powder removal unit that is disposed opposite the image
carrier at a position downstream in the rotation direction of the
image carrier than the transfer position of the transfer unit and
upstream than the charging unit, and removes paper powder adhering
to the image carrier from the image carrier, wherein the transfer
unit collects a developer remaining on the image carrier after
transferring by the transfer unit, and wherein a paper powder
removal region from which the paper powder removal unit removes
paper powder on the image carrier is set wider in the rotation axis
direction of the image carrier than the charge target region.
[0230] In the image forming apparatus thus configured, the paper
powder removal region is set wider than the charging target region,
so that paper powder can be completely removed from the surface of
the image carrier corresponding to the charging target region by
using the paper powder removal unit, and it can be sufficiently
prevented that the paper powder adheres to the electrodes of the
charging unit and causes abnormal discharge, deteriorates the
performance of the charging unit, and makes charging of the image
carrier incomplete. In detail, for example, even when paper powder
enters from the outside of the paper powder removal region, since
the paper powder removal region is wider than the charging target
region, the paper powder that has entered can be sufficiently
prevented from harmfully influencing the charging unit.
[0231] As the charging unit, a corona charger that has a grid
electrode at an opening for discharging corona ions is known. In
this type of charger, the width of the grid electrode (opening) in
the rotation axis direction of the image carrier matches the width
of the charging target region in the rotation axis direction of the
image carrier. Therefore, when the charging unit is a charger
having a grid electrode at its opening, the paper powder removal
region is set wider in the rotation axis direction of the image
carrier than the grid electrode (opening).
[0232] The paper powder removal region may be set wider in the
rotation axis direction of the image carrier than a developing
region on the image carrier to which the developing unit applies a
developer. According to this configuration, after transferring, the
developer remaining on the image carrier is dispersed on the image
carrier by receiving power from the paper powder removal unit when
the paper powder removal unit removes paper powder from the image
carrier, and becomes easy to separate from the image carrier and
becomes easy to be collected by the developing unit.
[0233] According to this configuration, since the paper powder
removal region is set wider than the developing region in which the
developer may remain after transferring, almost all the developer
remaining on the image carrier can be dispersed by the paper powder
removal unit, and the collect rate of the developer by the
developing unit is improved.
[0234] The charging target region may be set wider in the rotation
axis direction of the image carrier than a developing region on the
image carrier to which the developing unit applies a developer.
Accordingly, the entire developing region can be sufficiently
charged by the charging unit.
[0235] The paper powder removal region may be set wider in the
rotation axis direction of the image carrier than a transfer region
on the image carrier in which a developer image is to be
transferred by the transfer unit onto a sheet. When the transfer
unit transfers a developer image formed on the image carrier onto a
sheet, powder adheres to the transfer region on the image
carrier.
[0236] By setting the paper powder removal region wider than the
transfer region, paper powder can be removed from the entire region
of the image carrier where paper powder is likely to adhere, so
that the problem of abnormal discharge from the charging unit due
to paper powder can be satisfactorily solved.
[0237] When a transfer member (transfer roller, transfer belt,
etc.,) that comes into contact with the image carrier is used as
the transfer unit and the width of the surface of the transfer
member in contact with the image carrier in the rotation axis
direction of the image carrier matches the width of the transfer
region in the rotation axis direction of the image carrier, the
paper powder removal region is set wider than the length of the
surface of the transfer member in contact with the image carrier in
the rotation axis direction of the image carrier.
[0238] The charging target region may be set wider in the rotation
axis direction of the image carrier than a transfer region on the
image carrier in which a developer image is to be transferred onto
a sheet by the transfer unit, and the transfer region may be set
wider in the rotation axis direction of the image carrier than a
developing region on the image carrier to which the developing unit
applies a developer. Namely, the widths of the paper powder removal
region, the charging target region, the transfer region, and the
developing region in the rotation axis direction of the image
carrier are set so as to satisfy the relationship of the paper
powder removal region>the charging target region>the transfer
region>the developing region.
[0239] By setting the widths the paper powder removal region as
above, the charging target region, the transfer region, and the
developing region becomes very preferable since the setting
provides a plurality of effects described as follows.
[0240] Namely, in the image forming apparatus thus configured,
since the paper powder removal region is wider than the developing
region, almost all the developer remaining on the image carrier can
be dispersed by the paper powder removal unit, and the collect rate
of the developer by the developing unit can be improved.
Furthermore, since the charging target region is wider than the
developing region, the entire developing region can be sufficiently
charged by the charging unit.
[0241] In addition, since the paper powder removal region is wider
than the transfer region, the paper powder can be removed from the
entire region of the image carrier where the paper powder is likely
to adhere, and the problem of abnormal discharge from the charging
unit due to the paper powder can be sufficiently solved.
[0242] In addition, discharge may occur when transferring if the
transfer region is wider than the charging target region, however,
in the image forming apparatus configured above, the charging
target region is set wider than the transfer region, so that such a
problem can be solved. Furthermore, since the transfer region is
set wider than the developing region, a developer image formed on
the image carrier can be excellently transferred onto a sheet.
[0243] The paper powder removal unit may be configured to have a
brush disposed opposite the image carrier, and removes paper powder
adhering to the image carrier from the image carrier with the
brush.
[0244] When the paper powder removal unit is configured so as to
remove paper powder from the image carrier by using a brush, paper
powder can be effectively removed from the image carrier and a
developer remaining on the image carrier after transferring can be
effectively dispersed, and the remaining developer can be
effectively collected by the developing unit. In the case of this
paper powder removal unit, when paper powder accumulates on the
brush during a long period of use, a part of the accumulating paper
powder may splatter from both ends of the brush in the rotation
axis direction of the image carrier, however, according to the
invention, since the paper powder removal region is wider than the
charging target region, that is, the length of the brush in the
rotation axis direction of the image carrier is wider than the
charging target region, a part of paper powder splattering from
both ends of the brush can be sufficiently prevented from adhering
to the electrodes of the charging unit and causing abnormal
discharge, etc.
[0245] In the above configured image forming apparatus, the
developer may be a positively charged toner. The paper powder is
mainly negatively charged, and therefore, by using a toner
positively charged reverse to the polarity of the paper powder,
paper powder collection can be effectively carried out by the paper
powder removal unit, and the toner remaining on the image carrier
after transferring can be efficiently dispersed and collected by
the developing unit.
[0246] Furthermore, when a positively charged toner is used as the
developer, the paper powder removal unit can be configured to have
a conductive brush disposed opposite the image carrier, and
selectively removes paper powder adhering to the image carrier from
the image carrier by maintaining the potential of the brush higher
than the surface potential of the image carrier by applying a
predetermined voltage to the brush.
[0247] In the image forming apparatus thus configured, since the
potential of the brush is set higher than the surface potential of
the image carrier, negatively charged paper powder adhering to the
image carrier when transferring can be adsorbed by the brush, and
the positively charged toner can be efficiently dispersed by
electrical power.
[0248] The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of
the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and
description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the
invention to the precise form disclosed, and modifications and
variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be
acquired from practice of the invention. The embodiments were
chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the
invention and its practical application program to enable one
skilled in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments
and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use
contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be
defined by the claims appended hereto, and their equivalents.
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